Tuesday, Jan 26th, 2021

The Opening Tip

Some essential reading on Kobe Bryant.
A highlight reel dunk by Anthony Edwards to begin a low right reel career.
We have good news for the crossover sector of Knicks fans and horse racing fans.

Tonight's best games

1. 01/26/2020: Kobe Bryant passes away

Kobe and Gianna Bryant, along with seven others, died in a helicopter crash one year ago today. From the way it broke (via TMZ, on Twitter) to the shoddy reporting afterward (one reporter flippantly remarked live on a major news network that all of Bryant’s daughters were on board) to the games that were played later that evening, it remains one of the most surreal and shocking days in recent American history.

Bryant was a basketball savant, a fascinating case study with an abnormal childhood, a longtime recluse, a narcissist early in life, a more balanced person later in life, an all-time great NBA player, a needed advocate for the WNBA, a favorite son of LA who inspired a uniquely fierce, almost worshipping brand of fan loyalty, and -- it shouldn’t be forgotten -- a credibly accused sexual assaulter.

Every detail is necessary in telling Bryant’s life story, and no part should be forgotten -- whether it be his support of women’s basketball as an NBA retiree, or what happened in Eagle, Co.

Here are some of the best things we read on him in the aftermath of his death:

It is a terrible irony that Kobe Bryant should fall from the sky (Esquire)
The tragedy of losing Kobe because he was trying to be the best dad (Yahoo)
Kobe Bryant was an original; there really wasn’t anyone like him (The Boston Globe)

Here are some stories commemorating the one-year anniversary of his death:

The longest flight in Los Angeles Lakers history: When the team learned of Kobe Bryant's death (ESPN)
The lasting memories of Kobe and Gigi (The Ringer)
A collection of stories of Kobe Bryant’s impact on everyday people (The Undefeated)
Reminders of Kobe Bryant’s life and spirit remain vivid a year after his death (The L.A. Times)

(Also: Jeff Pearlman’s new book, “Three Ring Circus” is a sometimes-harsh but enlightening look at what kind of person Bryant was during his first eight years in the NBA.)

2. Daily GIF: Anthony Edwards checks in

Between the continued exposé of D’Angelo Russell as a building block and the personal tragedy Karl-Anthony Towns has dealt with over the last year, the Timberwolves have perhaps the darkest setup in the league.

It also isn’t great that Anthony Edwards, the No. 1 overall pick in 2020, is off to a 12.1-PPG-34.7 percent-from-the-field start, but his dunk last night against the Warriors was a definite bright spot.

3. Harthorne Wingo, street player turned Knick, dies

Harthorne Wingo, a role player for the Knicks for four years in the 1970s who played on New York’s last title team, died on Saturday at the age of 73. A cause of death hasn’t yet been given, but he struggled with drug addiction for years, according to this New York Times article.

Wingo’s career, with the Knicks and then for several years in Europe, was otherwise unremarkable except for the fact that he was plucked from the streets of Rucker Park into the world of professional basketball.

From small Tyron, N.C., he boarded a Greyhound Bus to New York City in the late ‘60s and simply started playing basketball.

Here’s how his hometown paper described his ascendance from street legend to NBA player:

Wingo would soon find a home at Rucker Park, perhaps the best known of New York City’s basketball playgrounds. He played with current and future NBA stars there, but also made his own mark, later named one of the 50 greatest to ever take part in Rucker’s Pro League.

Wingo received an invitation in 1970 to join the Harlem Wizards. and soon caught the eye of the Knicks, who steered Wingo to a contract with the Allentown Jets of the Eastern League. He led Allentown to a league title during the 1971-1972 season and earned selection as the league’s MVP. Wingo rejoined Allentown for the 1972-73 season, but soon got a call from the Knicks and, on Feb. 1, 1973, signed his first NBA contract.

He would appear in 212 games for the Knicks and three during the ‘73 title run, reaching an unquestioned peak 1989, when he was name-dropped in the Beastie Boys song Lay it on me:

♫ More updated on the hip-hop lingo / My favorite New York Knick was Harthorne Wingo ♫

4. By the numbers

53.9 points

Jayson Tatum returned from his COVID-19 diagnosis yesterday and scored 24 in a win against the Bulls. He and Brown are averaging 53.9 points per game this year combined, second in the league behind Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving’s 58.5.

122-of-129 free throws

Damian Lillard has the fourth most free throws attempted in the league this season, and the fifth highest percentage (94.6 percent), having missed only seven of his 129 attempts.

20.5 minutes

J.J. Redick is averaging 10-plus-year lows across the board: 20.5 minutes per game, 33.3 percent shooting, 30 percent from deep, 8.1 points per game. So far, 2020-21 has been his worst season since his Magic days, when he was coached by his current coach, Stan Van Gundy. If it gets worse, he could be a hot buyout market candidate in a few months. (A good candidate in terms of basketball skill, too.)

114.7 defensive rating

Since acquiring James Harden, the Nets have posted a 114.7 defensive rating, 23rd in the league. (It was way worse before holding the Heat to 85 last night.) It’s no coincidence they’re trying to lure JaVale McGee from the Cavs.

5. The most substantial Knicks victory in years happened this weekend

A horse named Knicks Go (No. 4 above) won the Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Saturday in Florida, instantly becoming a cult figure in the dark world of #KnicksTwitter.

"Great horses do great things, and he did something great today," the horse’s trainer, Brad Cox, told BloodHorse.com. "I'm very proud of him."

Also: According to Page Six, Nets assistant coach and former Knick Amar’e Stoudemire was at the race (so much for health and safety protocols), and bet on Knicks Go, winning $700.

6. Quick hits

LeBron scored 46 points last night in Cleveland, and is now shooting 41.2 percent from 3 on 6.6 attempts this season.
Bear witness to the most devastating free throw miss of the season.
Maybe this is why Ben Simmons doesn’t like shooting 3s.
This James Harden pass last night was unnecessary but cool. (Also, the Nets beat the Heat, who are now 6-10.)
Mr. Education Reform had a game-winner over the weekend. He’s averaging 24.1 points for the season.
Here’s Gary Trent Jr. with a soccer-quality flop last night.

7. Off the press

It's not too late for the NBA to return to a bubble [Sports Illustrated]
LeBron James just might play forever [The Ringer]
Nikola Jokic is playing like the NBA MVP right now [SB Nation]

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One year since Kobe’s death — NYC street legend dies — Go Knicks Go

The Opening Tip

Tonight's best games

1. 01/26/2020: Kobe Bryant passes away

2. Daily GIF: Anthony Edwards checks in

3. Harthorne Wingo, street player turned Knick, dies

4. By the numbers

53.9 points

122-of-129 free throws

20.5 minutes

114.7 defensive rating

5. The most substantial Knicks victory in years happened this weekend

6. Quick hits

7. Off the press

Older messages

Shaq vs. Utah — Bernie x NBA memes — Kobe’s 81

Harden & KD’s start — Steph’s dagger — 7th round, ‘77 NBA Draft

Brooklyn’s final form — Hornets = fun — Japanese Raptors fans

COVID concerns — Long-time Warrior retires — NBA pretenders

Home court disadvantage — Knicks fans speak — Celtics’ best No. 11s

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