All-star or no?

Dwayne Wade is one of the surprise selections for the 2015 NBA All-Star Game.  This is the 11th time Wade has been selected to be an all-star during his career.  Wade is one of the leagues best spokesman.  His wholesome style has been great for the NBA'S image since he entered the league in 2003.

Wade ' s selection as a reserve could be based more on career accomplishments than his overall performance this season.  Miami currently has a record of 20-25.  The Heat have taken a step back since LeBron James' s departure.  Miami will probably be an easy first-round out come playoff time.

Wade is likely a first ballot Hall-of-Fame selection once his playing days are officially over. One more all-star selection isn't necessary to bolster his Hall-of-Fame resume.  Three NBA Championships, an NBA Finals MVP award and one of the greatest performances in NBA Finals history is saying enough.

Wade was nearly selected as a starter by the fans.  Fan voting has never been a great indicator of whose playing well in the league.  Fan voting is more like a popularity contest by one sided voters.  The league still hasn't gotten the memo on that topic.

Wade will probably use the all-star break to rest his aging body.  At this stage of his career, Wade needs all the rest he can get heading into the stretch run.  Despite having a losing record, Miami still has a great shot at returning to the playoffs due to a weak Eastern Conference.

Brandin knight and Kyle Korver have a legitimate beef over this selection.  Milwaukee is right above 500. despite losing rookie sensation Jabari Parker for the season.  Atlanta is the hottest team in the league and Korver has been shooting lights out this season.

Knicks sign Galloway

Since six weeks ago the world knew little to nothing about Langston Galloway.  The undrafted guard out of St Joseph's was waiting on his opportunity to showcase his talent on the highest level.

Galloway has made the most of two 10-day contracts with the New York Knicks.  He's averaged 12.1 points, 3.0 assist and 1.1 steals in eight games this season.  Galloway has been one of the only bright spots for New York this season.  Galloway may not be apart of the Knicks future, however, the remainder of this season could lead to him finding a permanent home in the NBA.

Galloway ' s success is a testament to New York's new D-League affiliate the Westchester Knicks.  The Knick's have lacked success in developing talent during the franchises long and storied history.  Having a minor league team this close to the city should benefit the organization tremendously moving forward.

Salute to Dr. King

MLK Day games have become a huge part of the NBA'S tradition.  The league does a great job honoring a man that devoted his life to the advancement of his race, country and people in general.

MLK Day means more to the NBA in comparison to the other three major professional sports leagues in America.  The league is predominantly black.  Without Dr. King's tireless hours or marching, preaching and spreading the word of equality, the NBA as we know it would not exist.  There was a time when teams would make three or four stops before finding a place that would feed the black players.  The early days of the NBA were grim.

During the leagues early years, black players were few and far in between.  For a black player to make a roster during the 1950's he'd have to outshine white players to the point of no denial.  Today players such as LeBron James and Dwayne Wade have become acute businessmen off the court.  Shaquille O'Neal has become an entrepreneur in the business world.  Even Kobe Bryant has started the process of transitioning into his own corporate entity once retirement becomes a reality.

Frankly, the NBA has benefited from Martin Luther King's contributions tremendously.  Dr. King isn't the only person that deserves credit for their efforts during that time period.  Any person that ever joined a picket line, marched in unison, joined in on the Montgomery boycott or simply wrote a letter advocating for change deserves credit.

Dr. King and others sacrificed their lives so days like today could be possible.  The NBA would not be the same if not for the tireless efforts of Dr. King.

Mike Conley Jr. alert

Mike Conley Jr. could be the most underrated player in the NBA.  His name is rarely mentioned amongst the elite lead guards in the game.  Conley Jr. has improved steadily every year since entering the league.  This season he's taken his game to new heights.  The patience the Memphis Grizzlies have shown in Conley Jr. Is paying off in a significant manner.

Conley Jr. is averaging 18.3 points, 6.2 assist, 1.3 steals and 3.6 rebounds per game this season.  He has developed into the Grizzlies best scoring option, as well as an elite defender.  Conley Jr. Is a key reason why the Grizzlies are a threat to win the Western Conference.  The Grizzlies hard nosed style makes them a tough out come playoff time. This year Conley Jr. and company are looking to get over the hump and advance to the first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history.  Conley Jr. Is the one that can get Memphis to the promise land.  The young guard needs to be up for the challenge.

Conley Jr. was an inconsistent shooter when he entered the league.  Today the three-point basket is one of his greatest assets.  He is one of the hardest working guards in the NBA.

Conley Jr. Probably won't get too much consideration in the race for league MVP.  Those that keep close tabs on the Grizzlies are aware of just how valuable Conley Jr. truly is. Some players don't need recognition to prove their worth.  Conley Jr. is a throwback player in so many ways!

Surprise Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are currently the hottest team in the NBA.  The Hawks have collected a victory in 20 of their last 22 games. Atlanta sits atop the Eastern Conference with a 27-8 record.  This is the Hawks best start since the 1993-1994 season.  The Hawks have replaced the Cleveland Cavaliers as one of the elite teams in the Eastern Conference.

Jeff Teague has been one of the driving forces of Atlanta success.  The young guard is averaging 17.7 points, 7 assist and 1.8 steals per contest.  Teague has a chance to make his first All-Star game this season.  Atlanta ' s overall success could help Teague make the squad as a reserve.

Paul Milsap has been a force to reckon with this season.  Millsap ' s versatility has been on display.  He's averaged 17 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.1 assist and 1.9 steals per night.  Milsap deserves to be on the Eastern Conference All-Star squad.  Without him the Hawks would likely be somewhere around the 500 mark.

The Hawks have been one of the most surprising teams in the NBA during the first half of the season.

knicks roster shake up

The New York Knicks have decided to cut ties with two players that were once believed to be key components of the teams future.

New Jersey native J.R Smith and Iman Shumpert were both traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team trade that included the Oklahoma City Thunder.  Following the worst start in franchise history, New York is officially in rebuild mode.

At this point starting from scratch with a center piece such as Carmelo Anthony is definitely New York's best option.  The Knicks are currently in the midst of a 13 game losing streak, the longest in franchise history.

The Detroit Pistons recently released veteran forward Josh Smith.  Since Smith's departure Detroit has collected seven consecutive victories.  By All-Star Weekend the Pistons could be competing for a playoff position.  The Knicks are not equipped to pull off a mid season turnaround of this magnitude.  The roster is sullied with players that will be playing elsewhere next season.  At this point players on the Knicks roster are auditioning for 2016.

Carmelo will turn 31 years old this spring.  Paul Pierce was the same age when the Boston Celtics acquired Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to form one of the most Infamous trios in NBA history.

The clock is ticking on Carmelo Anthony and the New York knicks.

RIP Stuart Scott

Legendary ESPN Anchor Stuart Scott lost his seven year battle with cancer today.  Scott is survived by a girlfriend and two daughters.

Scott changed the world of broadcast journalism as we know it.  His catch phrases helped SportsCenter become one of the most popular shows on television.  Scott was one of the most recognizable black men on television.

Scott's authentic delivery captivated an entire generation of sports fans.  Scott made sports journalism look like a cool profession to be apart of.  Scott, along with Rich Eisen, Keith Olbermann and Dan Patrick produced memorable television on a nightly basis.

Stuart Scott will never be forgotten. "BOOYAH"