From the moment he arrived to the Grizzlies, Zach Randolph imagined a cooperation with Marc Gasol defying NBA odds. An unorthodox, once ball dominant power forward, and a forgotten Gasol brother. Read more »

Not every 23-year-old rising star accepts his role being teetered. Astute and understanding, Klay Thompson held a calm demeanor as coaches debated the best course of action in camp, displaying exactly the type of self-starting and ego sacrifice the Warriors now integrate within their culture. Read more »

Aside from Derrick Rose, Tom Thibodeau has been the best thing that happened to this management core, a wise and franchise-altering hire three years ago, and now they shouldn’t let his future in Chicago spin and swerve and jeopardize in front of the NBA. Read more »

From 1997 to now, nothing has changed, as Gregg Popovich states exactly right: Tim Duncan is still the base of everything for the Spurs. As well conditioned as a year ago where the Finals were nearly in hand and still breaking records and chasing history at 37 years old. Read more »

Out of Boston and onto Brooklyn, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett understood leaders would be newly cultivated. As much as anything, Avery Bradley heard from them that being a foundational part of the Celtics’ rebuild wouldn’t be easy – that there’s a preciousness to patience, to discipline. Read more »

Derek Fisher has witnessed leaders forget about individual benchmarks and forfeit time away from the court for his five NBA championships. He’s pursuing a sixth now and in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Fisher knows there’s a commitment to fill any vacancy on the floor. Read more »

Andrew Bynum has played four games as part of a comeback with an established Cavaliers organization that prepared itself to fulfill his rehabilitation. Through it all, a clear truth washed over Bynum: His rehab promises to be ongoing as he talks to RealGM about the state of his health. Read more »

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has evident traits to translate into an elite player. He’s lengthy, relentless in drives to the basket, and displays a visible passion in both high and low moments in a game. His first season didn’t match the expectations of the Bobcats’ No. 2 pick, and yet MKG remains a willing learner at just 20. Read more »

As Derrick Rose went further and further into his comeback, George Hill had grasped an unmistakable trend with what was transpiring between his team’s defense and the 2011 MVP. In many ways, he sought the collisions to reassert that there will be no change in his fearless driving style. Read more »

Just last year, Larry Sanders had been toiling as a lost player, but he has played himself into the USA Basketball program and now comes out of it wiser after being around some of the best coaching minds. Read more »

John Wall has seen NBA players come into the USA Basketball program over the summers to absorb the experience and competition, only to turn it all into a career season in the fall. He wants to take from this week’s minicamp a similar impact, but there’s a desire to show the coaches and officials that he’s a rising guard, too. Read more »

Skill and talent, scoring and athleticism have never been issues for Eric Gordon. Health has. He knows that, and just three years ago it seemed he was on the cusp of the All-Star game. As a growing leader, Gordon has tried to mend fences with the Pelicans this summer. Read more »

Danny Ferry and Mike Budenholzer called Jeff Teague late Saturday afternoon. Together they delivered a message Teague wanted all along out of the organization that drafted him in 2009 and thrust him into a 2011 playoff series against Derrick Rose that he still credits as outline for his potential. Read more »

Pat Riley smoothens all around the Miami Heat: LeBron James’ decision, the talent around him. Heat executives call Riley the fabric of Miami’s structure, and the architect has a vision of this ride going on and on. Read more »

Maybe teammates had been so used to LeBron James needing his headband, whether it’s for comfort or appearance. Fighting for his life in these NBA Finals, fighting for his basketball stature, this accessory was the last thing James had on his mind in Game 6. Read more »

This was LeBron James’ transcendent memory of The Finals, a remembrance forever. It will be repeated over and over and over and over, Chris Bosh said. As clutch as that shot with cramps was a year ago, this block, to assist, to steal, to dunk moment was a four-part masterpiece. Read more »

Chris Bosh is the member of the Big 3 who could have the most to lose in a potential Finals collapse: His place as an untouchable on the roster. He had grown up idolizing Duncan, imagining he was hitting jumpers atop Garnett in early workouts in Toronto, and the Heat must believe now that somewhere within Bosh still exists that self-action to match the burden. Read more »

For Tony Parker, winning The Finals MVP in 2007 was supposed to bring validation to his game. Forget recognition as a top guard, those Finals instilled in Parker that he’s a top player in the NBA. Read more »

Lance Stephenson knows what’s awaiting them with the way LeBron has dominated in Miami, and still Frank Vogel will develop their confidence between now and Game 7. Here were Roy Hibbert and Paul George in agreement over an ending of this series that would send these franchises in different directions. Read more »

LeBron James’ ease was telling on his way out of fouling out of Game 4. He was calm in his responses, tranquil over a game that had both teams irate at times about calls. James was snatched an opportunity to close out a potential 3-1 series lead, basketball’s premiere closer fouling out of a tight game. Read more »