Another storyline that will be very interesting to follow in the second half will be the new look New York Knicks with their trio of Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, and the seemingly forgotten Chauncey Billups as well as the affect of the other trades. The team gutted the roster to land a second superstar in Anthony to play alongside Stoudemire. How well will these two players play alongside each other and how will D’Antoni divvy up the minutes to a team with little depth, especially in the frontcourt? The team will definitely be able to score with the addition of one of the elite scorers in the league but the defense is sure to drop off a little with the lack of size and the trading of Chandler for Anthony on the defensive end. The Knicks have built a very strong core to their team and it will be interesting to see how much of an effect it will have on the team this year. The lack of depth and with only 28 games left in the season, can the Knicks find their offensive rhythm fast enough or will the team endure some growing pains like the Miami Heat early in the season? The other trades that will be followed the most are the Nets acquisition of Deron Williams and the Celtics flurry of trades. With the Nets, the main question will be if the Nets can prove to Williams that it is worth resigning with New Jersey as they move to Brooklyn in 2012. As for the Celtics, the alteration of a roster that got them to the NBA Finals a season earlier will be watched very closely especially for a team that has seen such great success in the past three years. Will the change in their frontcourt hurt their championship chances if they meet up with the Lakers or Magic in the playoffs? Perkins has missed 43 games so far this year and the Celtics have the second best record in the league at 41-15. We will see how these trades play out through the rest of the season.

The final storyline is, of course, if the Lakers will three-peat. Each conference has three or four very good teams who are considered very serious contenders for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The Eastern Conference has already been discussed with the top three teams of Boston, Miami, and Chicago while Orlando is a little bit behind those teams looking in. On the other side in the Western Conference, the top three teams of the San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles Lakers are all legitimate title contenders and now the Oklahoma City Thunder have thrown themselves right in the mix with those three with their trade deadline acquisitions. The Spurs have been very consistent throughout the whole year and have their own big three with Manu Ginobli, Tony Parker, and Tim Duncan. Tim Duncan has been putting up career low numbers but also career low minutes so Gregg Popovich is trying to keep Duncan as fresh as possible for the playoffs. But a healthy Ginobli, Parker, a rejuvenated Richard Jefferson, and Sixth Man of the Year candidate in George Hill the Spurs have raced out to the best record in the league and a six game lead in the West. The Mavericks have been very good with Nowitzki healthy and really only had a bad stretch when Nowitzki was hurt and Caron Butler had a season ending injury in late December and into mid-January. The Lakers are the defending champions with two-time Finals MVP winner Kobe Bryant still performing at a very high level and running this team. The team is pretty much the same team that won the 2010 NBA Championship and are still the champions until someone knocks them off. Then there is the Oklahoma City Thunder who is a very young team with the leagues leading scorer Kevin Durant and fellow All Star Russell Westbrook leading the way. The new acquisitions of Kendrick Perkins and Nazr Mohammad should help the Thunder chase down the Western Conference Title and an NBA championship. A year ago in the playoffs, the Thunder gave the Lakers their biggest scare in the Western Conference as the 8 seed and was the most of the team’s first experience in the playoffs. The team has a year of playoff experience under its belt and may be ready to make a run in the playoffs. This should prove to be a great second half of the season and playoffs with a number of interesting storylines to follow.

Here are highlights from the first half of the season:

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The Knicks paid a high price to acquire the four-time All-Star Anthony by trading 3 of 5 starters and a key part of the supporting cast in Wilson Chandler. But the Knicks were able to land the second superstar they have wanted for so long and now New York is on its way back to the top of the East with the core of Anthony and Stoudemire to build around. Anthony will now be bringing his career average of 24.8 points per game to the Madison Square Garden as well as his 29.9 points per game in games against the Knicks. Now that the Knicks have their core of two stars, the speculation will continue to rise about whether they can land a third in the summer of 2012 when Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Dwight Howard could become free agents.

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Of course plenty can happen until the beginning of the season. Trades, free agent signings and injuries will continually change the NBA landscape. But the Lakers’ chances of becoming the first NBA team to repeat their title since 2002 actually don’t appear too bad.

The roster is relatively young still. Derek Fisher may turn 35 in August and showed his age in this season (Playoffs 2009: 28.4 3pt%). But the point guard could take over more and more the Steve Kerr role as designated three-point shooter. And while Jordan Farmar took a step backward this season (from 9.1 points in 2007-08 to 6.4 points in 2008-09), the 22-year-old will likely improve in the summer and better understand the triangle offense. Then there is Kobe Bryant – who is the only other player on the other side of 30 on the roster back from last season. But he will undoubtedly keep his body in top form and will not just sit back relaxed. And now Ron Artest has come into the picture filling in for the departed Trevor Ariza, who turned into a defensive stopper with three-point potential. But Artest can more than fill that role. The question is how he and Kobe will get along.

That leaves problem child Lamar Odom. The free agent has said he wants to stay with the Lakers. Odom playing more of a power forward position will take away some of the ball-handling responsibilities from Fisher and Farmer. And Odom’s versatility is enormously important for L.A.’s system. But now that Ariza is gone and Artest accepted less money than he could have received elsewhere, Lakers owner Jerry Buss has some room to reach into his pockets even though any additional salary he takes on will count against the luxury tax since the Lakers are over the salary cap.

All in all, the Lakers should have the same rotation – with Artest in for Ariza – and have to go into the season as at least the favorite in the Western Conference. And the team will only get better with the added experience they have gained from the 2009 championship run. In addition, head coach Phil Jackson is an expert when it comes to motivating championship teams.

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The “Black Mamba” was so focused and worked so hard that he even came up with a new facial expression never really seen before on him. Many columnists called his new look his “Game Face”.

The Lakers star sort of combined a snarl and a growl with his bottom teeth showing – looking quite dangerous. Yeah, that helped a bit in winning the title.

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There is one thing you have to say about Allen Iverson. The man known as The Answer never shied away from anyone or anything in his 13 years in the NBA. Iverson remained true to himself whether it was the way he lived his life or his idea of basketball. Whether or not his way was the right one is anyone’s guess – even if it’s leading him to a dead end.

Since 2001, I have spoken with Allen Iverson four times. He was always honest, speaking openly about the game, the world and his role within it. Unfortunately though, he has been unable to accomplish a number of things he had planned. In Los Angeles, I asked the then 28-year-old if he thought that he would have to change his game in the future. He was after all nearing 30 years old – an age when many guards start losing their quickness. And it’s a dangerous time, especially for shooting guards like Iverson who live off their athleticism. A.I. knew that he would one day not be able to play like he did when he was 22. He mentioned that he wanted to play like John Stockton, as smart and clever as the former Utah Jazz playmaker who was elected into the Hall of Fame this year. On June 7, Allen Iverson will turn 34 years old. And there is none of Stockton in Iverson’s game.

The 2K9 Allen Iverson plays just like the 2K1 Allen Iverson. For the Nuggets in 2008, he averaged 26.4 points, 7.1 assists and 2.0 steals while shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 34.5 percent from three-point range. In 2001 those numbers were 31.1 points, 4.6 assists, 2.5 steals, 42.0 FG% and 32.0 3P%. Oh, and Iverson was named MVP while his Sixers lost in the Finals against the ShaKobe Lakers. Last season though, Iverson and the Nuggets were bounced in the first round of the playoffs, getting swept 4-0 against Kobe’s Lakers.

Iverson was not allowed to be Iverson in Detroit. The Pistons run a system relying on quick ball movement and a team-first attitude without a real star. None of that was a good fit for A.I. His scoring average of 17.5 points was hardly a sign that the league’s four-time top scorer had suddenly lost his ability to score the ball. Detroit and Iverson was more the result of a forced marriage. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think Iverson will ever win another MVP award or be as dominating as he was nine years ago. Allen Iverson could, however, still lead the NBA in scoring in the right system.

Allen Iverson’s problem though is that he would only accept a leading man role. He would never be one of five equal starters or even a high-scoring Sixth Man. He was always the guy who was in control of things – whether that meant being a high school quarterback, the rookie who took all the shots in Philadelphia or the MVP of an NBA Finals team. Allen Iverson is unshakable in his belief that he must have the ball in his hands for his team to win. And that has made Iverson a free agent. Yeah, the guy who hasn’t averaged fewer than 26.3 points per game in a season since 1999 is worth about as much as stock in General Motors.

If you look around the 30 NBA teams, it will take a while to find a franchise where The Answer would prove to be a feasible solution. None of the playoff teams would be an option since they have a certain hierarchy already in place and at least one star who defines their team. Things are similar with the lottery teams from the Western Conference. Most of them have talented young stars and are building strong squads. The only team where Allen Iverson would make sense in the Eastern Conference are the Charlotte Bobcats – a team which would close the circle of Iverson’s career.

The Bobcats’ coach is Larry Brown, the coach with whom Iverson went to the Finals in 2001. And Brown still raves about Iverson to this day. If anybody would know how to build A.I. successfully into a team, it’s Brown. And Charlotte’s roster seems like a perfect fit for Iverson. There is nobody in Charlotte’s guard positions who can score like The Answer. In fact, the whole team seems to have limited scoring punch with Gerald Wallace the top scorer with 16.6 points. But there are three players with playmaking abilities in point guards Raymond Felton (6.7 assists) and D.J. Augustine (3.5) and power forward Boris Diaw (4.9). Defensively, there is Wallace along with shot blockers Emeka Okafor and DeSagana Diop – two big men who have little offensive game other than the dunk.

The remaining question is the financial one. Charlotte will remain under the salary cap next season so they would have room for Iverson. Robert Johnson also needs to think about how he can fill the 20,200-seat Time Warner Cable Arena. During the 2007-08 season, the Bobcats averaged 14,717 fans for their home games. This season it was only 14,526, setting a new all-time low record in their five-year history.

So, Allen Iverson would make a lot of sense for Charlotte – but really for no other team. Let’s hope that Bobcats manager Michael Jordan pulls the right strings. Iverson may have his faults but the NBA would not be the same without him. And somehow I have the feeling that A.I. and Larry Brown would love to prove themselves to the league one more time.

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Washington Wizards
No team – save for perhaps the Rockets – can completely overcome the total loss of their top superstar. And in Washington, the Wizards dealt with the long-time absence of Gilbert Arenas after knee surgery as well as a torn wrist ligament for starting center Brendan Haywood, leading the team to a nightmare season. Both starters returned by March and their performances built hopes for a full recovery for the 2009-10 season.
In the absence of Arenas and Haywood, a number of talented young players received a lot of playing time, including Andray Blatche (power forward, 24.1 minutes per game), rookie Javale McGee (center, 15.1), Nick Young (shooting guard, 22.2) and Dominic McGuire (shooting guard, 25.9). That quartet playing behind the trio of stars Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison along with a Top-Five draft pick will give the Wizards a long and versatile bench.

Additional Notes:
Wizards owner Abe Pollin is – unlike in the past – ready to pay the luxury tax in the coming season for the chance to win the championship.

Oklahoma City Thunder
It may be a slap in the face of all ex-Sonics fans, but the Thunder have tremendous chances of reaching the 2010 Playoffs. With Russell Westbrook, Thabo Sefolosha, Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic, Oklahoma City has a young, hungry first five with loads of talent. Westbrook, Durant and Green make up one of the most exciting trios in the NBA. And once the Swissman Sefolosha came on board with his lock-down defense, the Thunder won eight of their next 20 games, including victories over San Antonio, Dallas and Philadelphia.
Oklahoma have two high picks in the 2009 Draft as well as plenty of space under the salary cap which can be used to bring in a veteran to help the young talent. And coach Scott Brooks completely changed the team’s playing style after his promotion from an assistant. The Thunder were able to re-discover themselves without the help of a training camp. Next season they will be very prepared.

Additional Notes:
In the last 20 years, only seven other rookies grabbed more offensive rebounds (calculated over an average of 36 minutes) than the 6-foot-3 Russell Westbrook. And all the other youngsters in the top ten are big men.

L.A. Clippers

The Clippers have put behind them an absolute nightmare season. Injuries ravaged the entire roster with Eric Gordon (78), Al Thorton (71) and Steve Novak (71) as the only Clippers to play 70 games this season. Fully healthy, Los Angeles could line up the following starting formation: Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Al Thornton, Zach Randolph, Marcus Camby. Chris Kaman could come off the bench and a high draft pick and a lot of room under the salary cap will help the rotation. In addition, Camby’s contract runs out in the summer 2010, meaning the shot blocker could bring more depth to the roster.
But a new General Manger would need to pull such a deal. But who will that be? For sure not Mike Dunleavy, who kept his spot after the exit of Elgin Baylor. But that’s a step forward. If only he could be taken out of the coaching chair …

Additional Notes:
Steve Novak is a killer from downtown. In March, the 6-foot-10 forward hit 54.7 percent of his three-pointers (4.6 attempts per game).

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When you’re talking about the NBA Playoffs, a superstar can make all the difference. If one of the absolute giants gets hot then nobody on the opposing defense can stop them. That happened in 2006 when Dwyane Wade robbed a sure ring from the fingers of the Dallas Mavericks. LeBron James picked apart the Detroit Pistons in 2007. But all too often it’s not the basketball icons who make the little difference. James Posey played a huge role in the Boston Celtics’ title run in 2008 as did defensive stalwart Bruce Bowen in the San Antonio Spurs’ championship teams.

So, who are the most important players besides the stars in the 2009 Playoffs? Who will do the crucial little things for the favorites this post-season? These guys are the X-factors away from the hype …

Trevor Ariza, L.A. Lakers
Stats: 8.9 Points, 4.4 Rebounds, 1.8 Assists, 1.7 Steals
Whenever the Lakers need to stop the opponents’ best wing player, Trevor Ariza is called to duty. His athleticism and defensive mentality makes him the ideal Bowen-Posey clone for coach Phil Jackson. As opposed to his predecessors, Ariza brings more athleticism. And he will be called upon in the Playoffs to stop the likes of LeBron James, Paul Pierce, Carmelo Anthony and Hedo Türkoglu. That will give a small break defensively to Kobe Bryant – who was responsible for stopping Pierce in the 2008 Finals. And while Ariza’s strength is on defense, he also can score on the break and hit from long range (32.6 3-pt%).

Delonte West, Cleveland Cavaliers
Stats: 11.6 Points, 3.1 Rebounds, 3.6 Assists, 39.4 3-pt%
Delone West played only shooting guard in college so it was no surprise that the tweener ran into problems in the NBA when his first two teams (Boston and Seattle) both put him at playmaker. But West is perfect for Cleveland. Mo Williams dishes the ball and LeBron James is basically a point forward in the half-court game. So it’s not a big issue that West struggles to create his own shot. He cleverly finds free space along the three-point line where he can shoot a high percentage or intelligently get by his charging defender and dish off an assist. And defensively his 6-foot-3 frame gives the Cavs a versatile guard to defend both positions, which helps the 6-foot-1 Williams.

Courtney Lee, Orlando Magic
Stats: 8.4 Points, 2.3 Rebounds, 1.2 Assists, 41.8 3-pt%
It’s rare that a late first rounder (22nd pick) plays an important role in his first Playoffs. But Courtney Lee is not your typically over-challenged rookie. After standing out in college for his absolutely professional work attitude, Lee played consistently and eventually made coach Stan Van Gundy’s starting line-up. On the one hand, he is a deadly effective outside shooter – an attribute any wing player must have in Orlando. But he is also a tough defender which gives point forward Hedo Türkoglu room to create. And the 6-foot-5 rookie also guards the likes of LeBron for Orlando.

Kenyon Martin, Denver Nuggets
Stats: 11.7 Points, 6.1 Rebounds, 1.1 Blocks, 2.0 Assists
Kenyon Martin once was a feared defensive and fast break monster while running alongside Jason Kidd in leading the Nets twice to the NBA Finals. But microfracture surgery eventually turned the high-energy power forward into a clever low post defensive specialist in Denver – someone who occasionally would surprise with an explosive action (offensively or defensively). Martin’s biggest help for the Nuggets is his strong rebounding, which helps Denver deal with opposing teams’ big men. Offensively, his repertoire is limited besides some emphatic dunks.

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The Power Rankings
These are the Power Rankings of the playoff teams at the end of the regular season. That does not necessarily mean number one will win the title.

Power Rankings 2009
How strong are the 16 Playoff teams at the start of the post-season? Our power rankings show who had momentum late and who barely crossed the finish line.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
The best home team since the 1985-86 Celtics appeared highly motivated all the way to the end. LeBron pushes his team like Kevin Garnett did with the Celtics in 2008.

2. L.A. Lakers
Andrew Bynum’s physicalness was missing in the end. Kobe looked a bit tired at the end of the season but he was playing for home court advantage in the Finals.

3. Boston Celtics
The champs head into the post-season a bit uncertain without Garnett. Just how fit is the Big Ticket really? And how much will Stephon Marbury help?

4. Orlando Magic
Dwight Howard and company blasted the Cleveland Cavaliers 116-87 in early April to get a big boost of motivation and confidence.

5. San Antonio Spurs
Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan are battling injuries and only Tony Parker is top fit. But is that enough to make them a darkhorse?

6. Denver Nuggets
This team plays together, defends and acts cleverly. Is this really the Denver Ruckers? What a difference a guy like Billups makes.

7. New Orleans Hornets
No longer are the Hornets a nightmare for the favorites, mainly because Tyson Chandler’s ankle is giving him problems. But with Chris Paul running the point, anything is possible.

8. Houston Rockets
No T-Mac, but instead you have a bunch of hungry, model professionals who want to prove themselves. But is that enough for their first Playoffs series win since 1997?

9. Utah Jazz
A season of injuries allowed the back-ups to get a lot of quality playing time. All the troops are healthy in time for the Playoffs. And this team is a sleeper for the title.

10. Portland Trail Blazers
They are young, play controlled, defend and are waiting for Greg Oden to finally wake up. How will the youngsters react to the playoff pressure?

11. Dallas Mavericks
Jason Kidd passed Magic Johnson for third place on the NBA’s all-time assist list. Too bad the Mavs don’t have the talent for big things in the post-season.

12. Atlanta Hawks
No bench, no problem. The Hawks are young, athletic and excellently led by Mike Bibby. Nobody wants to play against them in the Eastern Conference.

13. Philadelphia 76ers
Everything was running superbly until Thaddeus Young went down. The Sixers will not be a problem in the Playoffs without their bundle of energy.

14. Detroit Pistons
Allen Iverson is on the shelf injured but the youngsters have not taken the next step. Right now, everything is going wrong in Detroit.

15. Miami Heat
Dwyane Wade is one player the favorites don’t want to see lined up on the other side. If there is a big shocker in the Playoffs, then it will come from Miami.

16. Chicago Bulls
John Salmons broke through as a Bull. This team could make a deep run into the Playoffs – in 2010 after a low post scorer arrives by trade.

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Text: Johannes Korge

Whenever a player shorter than 6-foot makes noise in the NBA, it sparks special feelings for the league’s fans – especially the youngest ones. Players like Muggsy Bogues (5-foot-3), Earl Boykins (5-foot-5) or Spud Webb (5-foot-6) were most likely the shortest guys on the court in their early days and often ridiculed and not taken seriously. Yet, all three not only reached the NBA but established themselves and made millions during their solid, respectable careers.

Still, if these diminutive players can play with the best, fastest and mainly tallest ballers in the world, why can’t a fan of similar stature? Maybe on the asphalt or in a local club. But not in the NBA.

Webb and company show that talent, desire and effort can make up for the missing few inches. And there are a share of players at or below the magical 6-foot who not only keep up with the rest of the league but dominate it more often than not. All-Stars like Chris Paul and Allen Iverson have led their teams for years now. But fans still ooh and ah and cringe and cross their fingers any time one of the short fellas roam with the giants in the paint. And it’s exhilarating to think about a guy playing in the NBA but needing to jump to reach the top shelf in the supermarket. Still, these guys are among the best guards in the best league in the world.

That brings us to Nate Robinson – also known as “Nate the Great” and “Kryptonate”. Armed with an enormous confidence, the 5-foot-9 guard has played his way into the hearts of New York Knicks fans – as well as onto the “Most Wanted” list of supporters from teams around the league. After many successful baskets – preferably dunks, the combo-guard lets out a scream. But what is he screaming about? Satisfaction? Probably not. Aggression? Closer. What about 100 percent pure motivation, nearing counterproductive overzealousness? Bingo!

But it doesn’t even have to be a dunk of his own. At the end of January, the Phoenix Suns were visiting the Big Apple. With 3:36 left in the second quarter, Knicks forward David Lee surprised Suns big man Amar’e Stoudemire with a nice slam – plus the foul. Robinson was so impressed with his teammate’s move that the guard jumped off the bench and gave Stoudemire a bodybuider pose, letting the 13-inch taller Stoudemire know how foolish he looked in getting dunked upon by Lee. The referee gladly gave Robinson a technical foul and the Suns followed with a 13-3 run.

New York was able to win the game but afterwards Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni offered an interesting comment about his temperamental jumping bean Robinson. “That’s the reason why we don’t carry weapons. I could have shot him at that point,” said the coach. Of course it was a joke. But there was a sense of frustration and truth after likely the dumbest technical foul of the season. “We are not good enough to just give away points. I like his fearlessness. But he has to steer it in the right direction,” added D’Antoni. But that is Nate Robinson – fearless, motivated to the end and three-quarters under control. And his averages of 17.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists this season for the Knicks are all career highs.

The San Antonio Spurs experienced in the first game after the All-Star break what can happen if Robinson keeps his emotions under control and lets his game do the talking. With the Slam Dunk Contest trophy fresh in his memory, Robinson showed the Spurs that he is much more than just an abnormally athletic freak – dropping an impressive 32 points and 10 rebounds.

But that was just half the story. Points 25 and 26 knotted the game just before the end of regular. In overtime against one of the top title contenders, Robinson made Madison Square Garden his own stage, scoring six straight points and bringing the Garden into a frenzy. His final basket – a spectacular layup against San Antonio’s 6-foot-11 Tim Duncan – pushed the noise level at the Garden so high that even Nate’s teammates may not have heard his primal scream. “He is a wonderful player,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich of Robinson. “Besides his athleticism, he also has a certain brashness. He really gives everything he has.”

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In Part 2 of this interview with FIVE, Billups talks about paying to see fellow NBA stars, Shaquille O’Neal, trade rumors, coming from Colorado and playing Wii with his daughters.

With the game on the line, who would you take of all the NBA players?

Oh man, there’s a lot of them. It’s tough to not say Kobe, the way he’s playing right now and how he’s played for a long time. But I wouldn’t mind it in my hands.

Is there one guy in the league you would pay to go see?

There’s a few of them. LeBron. Kobe. Carmelo. I love watching and playing with ‘Melo now. KG. Duncan may not be the most exciting player in the world but you can appreciate his craft. There are probably seven, eight, ten guys I would pay to see.

But if you had money for just one ticket?

Kobe James

Looking around the league, who do you see as an emerging star?

You know, one of my favorite players to watch is Brandon Roy. I love Brandon Roy. There are so many great ones. But I love Brandon Roy’s game. He’s so smooth but he competes so hard, his expressions out there. I love Brandon Roy.

You were one of the first players to get traded this season – for Allen Iverson. Are you players like the members of the media where you hear all these rumors and try to figure them out?

I listen. I don’t really pay too much attention. But I listen. You pretty much have to because you could be living in a different area code pretty soon if you’re not paying some kind of attention. There’s always a million rumors out there about this guy or that guy. And you hear them and just go on about your daily business. When you hear something so much, we’re just like everybody else: where there’s smoke, there’s fire. You just really go on about it. There’s not really anything you can control about it. You just try to be professional and do what you do.

When you hear about a rumor, do you start joking with them?

I was joking around with Amar’e (Stoudamire). I was asking him what color would he be wearing. He was like: I don’t know man. I don’t know.

Speaking of talking, who are the best and worst trash-talkers in the league?

Man, there’s not really that many good ones any more. Not really. GP (Gary Payton) was great. KG talks a lot, but a lot of times he’s talking to himself. There’s really not any bad ones.

Now that you’re out West, you see Shaquille O’Neal more often. What do you think about him this season and what he’s doing with Phoenix?

He just seems hungrier out there to prove that he’s still here. He’s dominant. You still have to double or triple team him most nights. The only nights you don’t have to is when they don’t give it to him that much. He’s still the biggest force in basketball, no matter how you look at it, cut it or slice it. He’s a force.

Talk a little bit about you coming from Colorado. How proud are you of being back in your home state – one not really known for basketball?

My whole life I’ve been going to camps and people have asked where I’m from. And I’m there by myself. I tell them where I’m from and they say Where? – like it wasn’t even in the United States. They ask me if I ride horses. Or if I ski.

And the answers of course were yes and yes, right?

Nah, I have never skied before. And I’ve never rode a horse. I tell ‘em I’m here to play ball. So, check the ball and let’s go. And that was always my attitude.

How is KG with it? You’ve known him for a long time.

I’ve known him forever. He always says, man, I’ve never met anyone that was first: black that was from Colorado. And then two: that played basketball and was good at it. I’ve always carried that with me. So I do take it all a little bit more personally, being where I am from. A lot these other guys have 20 or 30 guys they know from home in the NBA. And I can’t say that. I carry a really heavy load wherever I go.

Looking around the league, do you see anybody else in the league who has traveled a similar path as you?

One guy who has been through a lot and been doing great is Mo Williams. He came in and was up and down a little bit. But Mo is already an All-Star and I’m sure he will be one for a while to come.

Looking back to winning the NBA title with the Detroit Pistons in 2004, how does it feel to exceed your dream and win the title?

Other than being there for the birth of my daughters and getting married to my wife there’s no feeling like winning a championship. There’s no better feeling than that. It’s just amazing.

Speaking of your kids, I heard you play Wii tennis with them. Who has the upper hand in that?

They do, man. Both of my daughters have the upper hand. The little one can’t beat me yet. But the older two, I can’t beat them.

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• Allen Iverson – last part of the interview
• Allen Iverson interview: part II
• The Allen Iverson interview (part I)
• Big money doesn’t mean big success
• Lean back and enjoy the LeBron show
• LeBron James in Pictures