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This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Jerome Bettis weighs in on the importance of franchise running backs
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How slain MS deputy Martin Shields' colleagues will honor him and help Jackson-area grads
Mississippi law enforcement agencies and first responders are taking the court for a cause on Saturday, July 12, for the "Battle of the Badges Basketball Tournament." The basketball event is presented by the Deputy Martin L. Shields Jr. Memorial Foundation in honor of fallen Hinds County Deputy Martin Luther Shields Jr., 37, who was fatally shot on the evening of Feb. 23 while responding to a domestic dispute call at a home on Midway Road in Terry. Born on July 14, 1987, Shields dedicated his life to serving his community and protecting his fellow citizens. This was evident in the hundreds of people who showed up at Shields' celebration of life service to pay their respects, including Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves. Teams scheduled to participate in the event include the Hinds County Sheriff's Department, Jackson Fire Department, Jackson Police Department, Ridgeland Police Department and Mississippi Highway Patrol. Homicides continue to drop in Jackson: Jackson sees 40% reduction in homicides in first half of 2025 compared to last year. Who are the victims? When: Doors open at 2 p.m., July 12 Where: Jackson Academy, 4908 Ridgewood Road in Jackson Cost: $5 for kids 12 and under. $20 for general admission Pre-purchased tickets can be bought online through Eventbrite. All proceeds will go toward scholarships for graduating seniors in the Jackson Metro area. Pam Dankins is the breaking news reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Have a tip? Email her at pdankins@ This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Hoops battle honors deputy Martin Shields, killed in the line of duty
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"He wouldn't be the same player he is today" - Pippen doubts KD would be the same elite scorer if he played in the 80s/90s
"He wouldn't be the same player he is today" - Pippen doubts KD would be the same elite scorer if he played in the 80s/90s originally appeared on Basketball Network. Kevin Durant's scoring resume is about as complete as they come — he is a four-time scoring champion and a two-time NBA champion. His offensive repertoire has long stood at the intersection of size, touch and creativity. Advertisement But despite all the accolades and countless buckets, people still debate how Durant's game would translate across eras, with one of basketball's most decorated defenders weighing in. Durant's game in the old era Scottie Pippen, a six-time NBA champion and one of the architects of the Chicago Bulls dynasty, made it clear he sees Durant's style as a product of the times. The Hall of Famer believes the newest Houston Rockets forward would've faced serious adjustments had he been dropped into the bruising world of the 1980s or 1990s NBA. "It would be a totally different game for him. He wouldn't be the same player he is today," Pippen said. "His ball handling would be limited because you could get into a player's body. Not just Durant, every player. The game had more physical quality." Advertisement Durant has built a Hall of Fame career around his fluidity. At nearly seven feet tall with a 7-foot-5 wingspan, he moves like a guard, glides into pull-ups and shoots over defenders like they aren't there. KD thrives in today's NBA, where floor spacing, freedom of movement and rules that favor offensive players have shifted the balance. However, the late 20th-century game lived by different laws. During that era, hand-checking, elbow clearing and hard fouls were strategic moves for defensive players. Scorers had to navigate a constant barrage of physicality, often administered by guys whose sole job was to wear down stars over four quarters. Offensive lanes were more congested, defensive three seconds didn't exist and perimeter defenders could guide offensive players with their hands. Pippen was built for that kind of basketball. At 6-foot-8, with the agility of a guard and the toughness of a forward, he spent years shadowing the league's best scorers, often without help. That's why his take on Durant isn't necessarily a dismissal of his greatness but rather a reminder of how much the league's infrastructure shapes what's possible on the court. Advertisement Durant's handle and perimeter game are foundational to his scoring identity, but against a defense that could bump him off his spots, crowd his dribble and meet him with force 25 feet from the hoop, that freedom would've been narrowed. Scoring 30 a night on 50 percent shooting might've looked different under a whistle that let defenders dictate pace and space. Related: "I think there needs to be clarification about a lot of things that happened" - Scottie Pippen on the need to continue calling out Michael Jordan No space, no peace In his prime, Pippen averaged 2.9 steals per game, a mark that still ranks among the top 25 in NBA history for a single season. He guarded the wings, hounded point guards, shut down shooting guards and often initiated the offense himself. Advertisement For all his height and length, Durant would've had to survive not just one Pippen but an era of Ron Harpers, Dennis Rodmans and Gary Paytons, ready to fight for every inch of hardwood. Beyond the defensive physicality, the style of the game itself would have posed another hurdle for KD. Today's NBA is wide. It's a league of pace, spacing and heavy 3-point volume. In 2024, teams averaged over 34 3-point attempts per game, compared to just 9.9 in 1990. That space creates oxygen for players like Durant, who thrive off isolation and pull-up jumpers. "You could pretty much guard a player from 94 feet and use your defensive skills to try to take him out of the game — and that's not where today's game is," Pippen said. Advertisement But in the '80s and '90s, offensive systems were tighter and more structured, often running through the post. Isolation plays existed but required deeper positioning and sharper timing, especially without the luxury of open corners and shooters stretching the floor. In that era, Durant's height wouldn't have made him an anomaly. Kevin McHale was 6-foot-10, Karl Malone was 6-foot-9 and built like a tank, and they played through contact in every possession. KD has never been known as a bruiser. His frame has drawn criticism throughout his career, with questions about how much physical toll he could absorb. In the '80s, slashing to the rim meant bracing for body-on-body impact, not a whistle. On a nightly basis, Durant would've had to face enforcers whose primary role was deterrence, the likes of Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason and Rick Mahorn. Advertisement That's not to say KD wouldn't have been successful. His jumper is too smooth, his release point is too high and his confidence is too unshakable to disappear entirely. But 30 points a night on near-effortless efficiency is what Pippen believes is a product of today's game, not a blueprint that would've been applicable in a different era. Related: 'As great as he is, there's a cap to his talent' - Scottie Pippen once revealed his biggest criticism of Kevin Durant's game This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
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Matt Barnes has a problem with all the Kobe slander in the past couple of years: "None of this weird talk was happening while he was here"
Matt Barnes has a problem with all the Kobe slander in the past couple of years: "None of this weird talk was happening while he was here" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Kobe Bryant's death remains one of the most tragic moments the sports world has ever seen. The entire basketball community, and quite honestly, anyone who ever picked up a basketball, was left in shock, covered in black. Advertisement The Los Angeles Lakers legend was always known for his fiery personality, his unapologetic attitude when it came to outworking everyone else in the gym, and his obsession with greatness at all costs. That same obsession could be a double-edged sword. It rubbed some the wrong way. But at the same time, those lucky enough to share the floor with him, whether as teammates or as rivals, knew what kind of legend he became. They can attest how good, no, great, Kob' was. And now, a few years removed from his passing, Matt Barnes is making it clear he's not feeling how some people are talking about Mamba's legacy today. "I don't like the energy around it," Barnes said on the recent "All The Smoke" podcast episode. "I just don't like it. Because none of this weird talk was going on while he was here." ESPN has Kobe at No. 10 And he's not wrong. While Kobe was here, nobody dared put him outside of that top tier. Because everyone knew Bryant would come back with that same fiery attitude that he had on the court. Nobody questioned how many guys you'd pick ahead of him if your life depended on winning a basketball game. Advertisement "It's not that I don't respect it, I just don't go by it. And I think a lot of former players don't go by it," Barnes added. "You gotta listen to what your peers are talking about. It's crazy when we look at ESPN, Kobe is always on the outside of (Top) 10. But when you talk about some of the guys that went to war before, after or with him, like, 'Yeah, yeah, Kobe is two, Kobe is three, Kobe is Top five.'" Take ESPN's rankings, for example. They've got Kobe sitting at No. 10, squeezed between Oscar Robertson (No. 9), a man who redefined the point guard position, and made triple-doubles seem like a regular thing and Shaquille O'Neal (No. 11). The same Shaq he won three straight titles in the City of Angels and took home three Finals MVPs just for good measure. And this is what's bugging Barnes. Because while Kobe's name might be sitting at 10 on some list cooked up in a meeting room, ask the players who had to try and stop him. Ask the guys who spent sleepless nights figuring out how to slow down the Mamba. They'll tell you straight: Kobe's in that top five conversation without blinking. The man built a resume that speaks for itself. Five rings, an 81-point night, a 60-piece in his final game and a mentality that became the standard for generations that came after him. Advertisement Related: Michael Jordan shows off his $115 million luxurious superyacht in Croatia Those who felt Bryant's wrath know the best Barnes wasn't trying to disrespect analysts. This wasn't about picking a fight with the people who make the lists or do the talking on TV. What he's saying is simple — the words that matter most come from the people who saw it up close. Barnes would know the best. After all, he's the guy who tried to make Kobe flinch on that iconic inbound pass. Mamba didn't budge. That's exactly what he did to the rest of the league as well. Related: "He wouldn't be the same player he is today" - Pippen doubts KD would be the same elite scorer if he played in the 80s/90s This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
