NBAFullCourt - Basketball Daily

A simple question was posed to Michael Beasley and Derrick Rose. Who's better? Neither of the presumptive top two picks in next month's NBA draft took long before answering, and naturally, their opinions couldn't have been more different. "He's way better than me," Rose said. "Why would he say that? His team went further in the tournament," Beasley countered.

The NBA had seven black top executives among its 30 teams during the 2007-08 season, the highest percentage of minority presidents and CEOs in men's professional sports history. The 23 percent of black executives, plus high ratios of women and black vice presidents, helped the NBA receive the first overall "A" among men's sports teams, according to the report issued Thursday by Richard Lapchick.

The NBA had seven black top executives among its teams during the 2007-08 season, the highest percentage of minority presidents and CEOs in men's professional sports history, according to a university study released Thursday. Besides Ulice Payne, who was president of baseball's Milwaukee Brewers in 2002-03, the seven men are the only blacks to serve as top executive of a men's team in any sport,...

The NBA had seven black top executives among its teams during the 2007-08 season, the highest percentage of minority presidents and CEOs in men's professional sports history, according to a university study released Thursday. Besides Ulice Payne, who was president of baseball's Milwaukee Brewers in 2002-03, the seven men are the only blacks to serve as top executive of a men's team in any sport,...

More than a few players at this week's NBA predraft camp have looked at the people studying them from the stands and acknowledged getting goosebumps. Michael Jordan is here, scouting for talent. Larry Bird's seat is in the front row near midcourt. Pat Riley is on his way, too. Playing in the presence of -- and simply being near -- some of basketball's all-time biggest names can be intimidating.

Boston's three All-Stars finally put it all together to move the Celtics one win away from the NBA finals for the first time since the original Big Three's heyday. Ray Allen scored 29, hitting a long 2-pointer with a minute left after Detroit came within one point, then he and Kevin Garnett each made a pair of free throws down the stretch as the Celtics beat the Detroit Pistons 106-102 in Game 5...

The youthful Los Angeles Lakers maintain they're not close to being a finished product. And yet, they're one win away from earning their first NBA finals berth in four years, with as many as three shots at it if necessary. In the process, they just might put an end to the San Antonio Spurs' era of dominance.

Kenny Anderson was back on an NBA bench Wednesday, wearing a collared shirt and holding a notebook. At 37, his playing days are over. He hopes his coaching days are just beginning. The former NBA guard and New York City high school great is an assistant coach this week for one of the six teams at the league's predraft camp at the Disney complex near Orlando.

Guard Tony Allen was inactive Wednesday night for the Celtics' playoff game against the Pistons after hurting his Achilles' tendon during practice. Forward Brian Scalabrine, who did not play in any of Boston's previous 18 playoff games, was activated in his place for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Coach Gregg Popovich has signed a contract extension with the San Antonio Spurs. Popovich confirmed the extension with the defending NBA champions, which runs through the 2011-12 season, before the Spurs' Game 4 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. Popovich has led the Spurs and star Tim Duncan to four NBA titles, in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007.

Chicago Bulls forward Joakim Noah accepted a deferred prosecution agreement Wednesday in his marijuana possession case, resulting in six months' probation and a $200 fine. The former Florida star was charged with possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and for having an open container of alcohol early Sunday in downtown Gainesville.

NBA playoff games have mysteriously disappeared from Chinese television. Entertainment programs on Chinese television were suspended last week during a three-day period of mourning for victims of the deadly Sichuan earthquake, including NBA playoff games. When the mourning period ended, the NBA playoffs returned as the state-run national broadcaster CCTV showed the Western Conference final between...

As the first session of drills and scrimmages at the annual NBA predraft camp ended, most players quickly shuffled into the locker rooms. Down on one end, three college teammates stayed on the floor, shooting together. Apparently, North Carolina's early entry draft hopefuls aren't ready to split up yet.

Kobe Bryant looked back and found himself all alone. All but guaranteed the basket, he went up and slammed the ball with a little extra oomph, just for good measure. One more win, and Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers will be all alone in the Western Conference and on their way to the NBA finals. The Lakers beat the San Antonio Spurs 93-91 on Tuesday night -- surviving a last-second 3-point attempt...

The Sacramento Kings exercised their club option for president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie on Tuesday, committing to him through the 2009-10 season. "We've had the privilege of working with Geoff for the past nine years and consider him to be the best general manager in the NBA," Kings owner Joe Maloof said.