During the Raptors media day on Monday afternoon, I had the chance to chat with new forward Amir Johnson about being dealt twice this summer, how the Raptors coaching staff plan to play him a bit at small forward, if he feels any pressure entering the last year of his contract and his goals for the upcoming season.

You often hear that there are three sides of every story or argument– the two opposing sides version of what happened, and then the actual truth. For the 2009 Washington Wizards Media Day, there were many different versions, many different truths, and many different stories to be told about this upcoming season.

This summer Marcus Banks seemed to be a lightning rode for controversy and speculation. Between not playing in Las Vegas for the Raptors to being rumored as part of a deal involving the Dallas Mavericks, the veteran combo guard seemed to continually see his name in the newspaper for all the wrong reasons.

Because of that during the Raptors media day on Monday he was one of the players I targeted to talk with about what went down this summer.

Banks had a grin from ear-to-ear as he got the chance to explain the truth behind why he didn’t participate in Las Vegas, rumors about him being dealt to Dallas and his goals for the upcoming season.

Heading into media day one of the main topics of discussions for Raptors fans was the status of Chris Bosh’s hamstring.
As I expected, Bosh is missing the next week strictly as a precautionary measure and there’s not much for Raptors fans to worry about. After what the team went through last year with Jose Calderon [...]

Over the past few years, countless basketball fans have grumbled about ESPN and AND1 ruining the game because they place an emphasis on flashy plays. Instead of enjoying the creativity and fun these programs bring to the game these couch-bound critics complain this style of play is corrupting the game.

This argument is on the verge of being put to rest as NBA players shot free throws as well as they ever have this past season.

I just got word from the Raptors PR team that Chris Bosh won’t join the team early next week when they travel to Ottawa for training camp. According to the report, Bosh initially felt discomfort last week during a training session and then reaggravated the hamstring during a workout Wednesday in Toronto.

In basketball, as in life, leadership often makes all the difference. Leaders motivate and conduct, but perhaps more importantly leaders must inspire. Good leadership inspires players to have confidence in the leader himself. It is only great leadership though that inspires players to have confidence in themselves.

With that in mind it takes only one look at the Boston Celtics to recognize their true leader. Paul Pierce is their charger, Ray Allen is their calming influence, and Rajon Rondo their vitality. But if Boston’s season came down to one player, there can be no question it would be Kevin Garnett.

Former NBA lottery pick and 10-year veteran Charles Smith is in Atlanta this weekend running an event for retired NBA players with Julius “Dr. J” Erving. I had the pleasure of talking with him about a wide range of topics, including how he got started with the National Basketball Retired Player’s Association, his role with the NBA’s Rookie Transition program, the Broadcast Technology Patent he developed and the event he’s running this weekend for over 200 NBA legends.

WashingtonWizards.com has released the third and final video focusing on the comeback of All-Star guard, Gilbert Arenas. The first video focused on Arenas’ training in the offseason. The second video took a closer look at Arenas’ rehab, and this last installment, details Arenas’ return to the basketball court.

WashingtonWizards.com has released the second in a series of three videos focusing on the comeback/rehabiliation of All-Star guard, Gilbert Arenas. The first video focused Arenas’ training in the offseason. This second video takes a close look at Arenas’ rehab. The third installment, to be released on September 22nd, focuses on Arenas’ return to the basketball court.