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2004-05 NCAA previews
Here are Slam's picks for the
upcoming college basketball season:
Men's Preseason Top 20: 1.
Kansas; 2. North Carolina; 3. Wake Forest; 4. Georgia Tech; 5.
Illinois; 6. Arizona; 7. Oklahoma State; 8. U-Conn; 9. Duke; 10.
Kentucky; 11. Maryland; 12. Syracuse; 13. Michigan State; 14.
Gonzaga; 15. Louisville; 16. Mississippi State; 17. Texas; 18.
Florida; 19. Pittsburgh; 20. Wisconsin
Women's Preseason Top 10: 1.
LSU; 2. Tennessee; 3. Baylor; 4. Georgia; 5. Texas; 6. U-Conn; 7.
Duke; 8. Stanford; 9. Rutgers; 10. Notre Dame
NCAA features
With the college hoops season
just around the corner, Slam magazine brings you a class-by-class
look at some of the nation's top players. Check out profiles of New
Mexico senior Danny Granger; Washington junior Nate Robinson;
Pittsburgh sophomore Chris Taft; Kentucky freshmen Randolph Morris,
Rajon Rondo and Joe Crawford; and Tennessee Lady Vols senior star
Shyra Ely.
The big relocation
Even two months later, it's
still hard to believe -- someone actually traded Shaquille O'Neal?
Yes, the Most Dominant Ever has a new home, and as he makes clear in
the new Slam cover story, Shaq has big plans for the folks in Miami.
In an exclusive as-told-to feature, the man who single-handedly
changed the NBA power balance tells us exactly what's on his mind.
Among the many highlights… Shaq
on his relationship with Kobe Bryant: "It's sort of like ancient
karate movies. Think about it: The master trains his young disciple.
Then when the young disciple gets some balls, they think they can do
better." … Shaq on his business acumen: "The Heat being able to get
me and keep Dwyane Wade? That's how good I am. You know I have great
general manager skills. I told them if I go somewhere, I'm going to
a good team. I'm not a dummy." … Shaq on being philosophical about
the trade: "I just like to look at it like this: Agent O'Neal did a
great job for the FBI in Los Angeles. His time is up there, and now
he just has to relocate to Miami." … Shaq on his former general
manager: "Some guys are so smart that they're dumb. Mitch Kupchak
will never be remembered for anything but what? Trading me. That was
the dumbest move in sports history. Congratulations, Mitch."
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NBA features
As always, Slam brings you
unique insight into some of the NBA's best players. This month,
Indiana Pacers forward and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Ron
Artest makes a blunt case for consideration among the league's best:
"I thought that I was the league MVP last year because we had the
best record and I was the best player on the team. I felt that I
should have at least been talked about for it." … Orlando Magic
rookie point guard Jameer Nelson tells us why, in retrospect, he's
at peace with his grueling draft-night experience: "The whole thing
at the draft gave me a lot of publicity. It was crazy, but I look at
it like this: If people didn't know who I was before, they knew
then." … New Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace talks about his big
opportunity as the jewel of Charlotte's expansion draft: "Sacramento
is a past life for me now, and I'm looking forward to it because
this is really a new beginning for me. I'm just going to play hard
and give it all I've got."
Slam's
"Old School"
In Slam's latest "Old School"
feature, notorious Detroit Pistons agitator Bill Laimbeer recalls
his Bad Boy heyday. Among the highlights of the Q&A, Laimbeer talks
about the commitment that brought the Pistons to the NBA promised
land: "Winning a championship. That was our sole focus and drive
behind everything we did, which was one of the best things about our
team. Everyone shared that. We always got better, and we all
believed we were going to get there."
HS hoops
Monthly preps coverage kicks
off with "Summer Grassroots Wrap-Up," highlighted by an in-depth
breakdown of the Adidas Superstar Camp, Nike All-American Camp and
Reebok ABCD Camp. Slam magazine also introduces you to another round
of up-and-coming prep stars, including Julian Wright of Chicago,
Brayden Bell of Salt Lake City, Korvotney Barber of Georgia, Jodi
Howell of Indiana and Chad Millard of New Hampshire. All that, plus
the latest "Basketball Diary" from Syracuse signee Eric Devendorf.
Etc.
Also this month: NBA notables
Adonal Foyle of the Warriors, Vlade Divac of the Lakers, Willie
Green of the Sixers, and Bob Sura and Charlie Ward of the Rockets;
college standouts Paul Millsap of Louisiana Tech, Jose Olivero of
Lehigh, Jacqueline Batteast of Notre Dame, and Ryan Gomes and Donnie
McGrath of Providence; international up-and-comer Antonis Fotsis of
Greece; a look back at the playing days of new Raptors coach Sam
Mitchell; a Q&A with NBA agent Bill Duffy; Michael Jordan in a
classic "Slamadamonth"; Yao Ming's translator Colin Pine; and the
first installment of our '04-05 NBA "Rookie Diary" from Philadelphia
first-rounder Andre Iguodala.
The
new issue of Slam is on sale Sept. 16.
[News release from
Slam magazine] |
