Basketball fans know all about the Dream Team from 1992. Of course, this was the first USA Olympic Basketball team that featured athletes from the NBA. Superstars like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Charles Barkley were all on the roster, making this the greatest basketball team of all time. 

Last night, ESPN started airing a new documentary on Michael Jordan and now, the hype surrounding MJ-related Dream Team gear has skyrocketed. In fact, just two weeks ago, Robert Edward Auctions began an auction for a game-worn autographed MJ jersey from the Olympics, with bidding starting at $25K. In the end, the jersey sold for a whopping $216,000.

If you’re a Nike Basketball fan, then you know all about the Nike Air More Uptempo. The shoe came out in the mid-90s and was immediately met with wide eyes thanks to its chunky aesthetic. In big bubble letters on the side, you can see the word “Air” which further adds to the unique aesthetics of the shoe. Overall, it was one of the most unorthodox models to come out of Nike during the 90s and continues to get new colorways, to this day.

Sometimes, Nike goes into the vault for retros of this shoe and that’s exactly what they did with the “Olympic” Uptempo from back in 1996. According to reports, this shoe will actually be returning in 2020, if all goes according to plan. The shoe is known for its Navy blue upper and white “AIR” writing on the sides. From there, red and gold accents can be found throughout. This offering fits the Olympic aesthetic perfectly and OG Nike fans will certainly want to give these a look.

Be sure to stay tuned for updates on this model as we will be sure to bring them to you over the coming months. Let us know if you plan on copping.

[Via]

Image Nike

Image Nike

Image Nike

Image Nike

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, you don’t have to worry about missing the Olympic Games.

This year’s Tokyo Olympic Games have been re-scheduled, after first being postponed. The Olympics are now set to take place in July and August 2021. Summer Games will be held July 23, 2021 to Aug. 8, 2021 and the Paralympic Games will run Aug. 24th, 2021 to Sept. 5, 2021. 

This decision was made based on protecting both the athletes and everyone involved to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. A conference call consisting of IOC president Thomas Bach, Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko, Olympic and Paralympic Minister Hashimoto Seiko, and Tokyo 2020 President Mori Yoshiro allowed the decision to take place. Despite not being on the call, the Japanese Prime Minister has stressed for the games to take place no later than summer 2021. 

According to organizers, this postponement gives health authorities and everyone involved more than enough time to deal with the constant changes of the coronavirus outbreak. Even though these new dates are going to protect the people of the Olympic Games, this is expected to hurt the Japanese economy in 2020. It forecasts the games would create $6.4 billion in consumer demand and canceling them would dent the overall economy by $74 billion. 

With the Coronavirus pandemic restricting travel for many athletes, some athletes have already qualified for the Olympics and will not have to re-qualify for Tokyo 2021. “It has previously been confirmed that all athletes already qualified and quota places already assigned for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will remain unchanged. This is a result of the fact that these Olympic Games Tokyo, in agreement with Japan, will remain the Games of the XXXII Olympiad,” the IOC explained.

This is the first time in modern Olympic history that a pandemic has interrupted and suspended the games.

As far as coronavirus cases, Japan has 1,884 confirmed occurrences of the COVID-19 with 1,408 remaining active. 

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It was just a matter of time before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics would be postponed. It makes sense. Coronavirus is quickly spreading throughout the world and there are growing fears that more people could become sick. Sending thousands of athletes to one place could be a huge risk and there is no point putting anymore lives in danger. With this in mind, it was revealed today that the Olympics would be postponed.

This news came straight from the mouth of Dick Pound who is a veteran official on the International Olympic Committee. In the latest report, Pound noted that the next four weeks will be crucial for the IOC as they decide when the games will be played. For now, 2021 is the likely target.

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

“On the basis of the information the IOC has, postponement has been decided,” Pound said. “The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the Games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know.”

This news will certainly come as a disappointment to all of the athletes who have been training hard for this moment. Luckily, the games aren’t canceled. They are simply being postponed which means all of the athletes who have qualified will still be able to participate.

Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.

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Kevin Durant is currently out of the Brooklyn Nets lineup due to an Achilles injury he suffered during the NBA Finals in 2019. Durant is expected to miss the entirety of this season which means he will make his Nets debut at the beginning of the 2020-2021 campaign. Now, it is being reported that Durant might be interested in playing at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. While it would be fun to see KD back on the court, coming back from a bad injury during the Olympics could prove to be a big liability for the Nets.

Today on ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith almost lost his marbles at the idea of Durant playing for Team USA. While speaking (yelling) to Max Kellerman and Jay Williams, Smith explained that Durant could seriously injure himself and if he were an executive for the Nets, he wouldn’t want to pay KD his contract in the event of an accident. 

Williams is one of KD’s closest confidants so it shouldn’t be a surprise that he was quite defensive of Durant’s position in all of this. Regardless, Smith seemed offended by KD’s interest in Team USA and acted as though he himself is paying KD’s contract. Needless to say, if we see KD in a Team USA jersey this summer, Smith will be in his bedroom shadowboxing in front of the TV. 

Do you agree with Smith or was he way off base here?

Tokyo, Japan is hosting the Olympics this summer and Team USA is expected to do some serious damage. Yesterday, the team released its long list of 44 finalists for the 12-man roster. As you can imagine, LeBron James was the biggest name on that list and now, people are speculating as to whether or not he’s going to want to play this summer.

Reporters asked James about the team and for now, he seems to be non-committal. According to Melissa Rohlin of Sports Illustrated, James’ decision will completely hinge on how his body is feeling, especially after the playoffs. LeBron and the Lakers are hoping to still be in a title race come June and if this is the case, LeBron may want to take the entire summer off.

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

“My name is in the hat and it’s always predicated on: one; my body, how my body is feeling at the end of the season — I hope to make a long playoff run,” James said. “And then where my mind is and then where my family’s head is. So, it’s a lot of factors but my name is in the hat.”

Even without LeBron, Team USA still has a stacked list of finalists so fans shouldn’t worry too much. There are plenty of stars to lead this team to yet another Gold medal.

This summer, some of the best NBA players in the world will be embarking on a journey to Tokyo, Japan for a chance to represent their country in the Olympic games. The United States is a powerhouse when it comes to international basketball and with some of the best players participating, the US is expected to win it all. Yesterday, Team USA announced the 44 finalists for its 12-man roster. Of course, this list included players like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard.

One of the names excluded from the list was none other than Atlanta Hawks sophomore, Trae Young. When asked about the snub, Young was very honest about his feelings. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hurt by seeing it," Young said Monday  Sarah K. Spencer. "Obviously I would have wanted to play on the team."

Reebok and Allen Iverson have plans to release several different Answer V Low colorways this year, including some of the OG styles and never before seen designs. Among them, a patriotic “USA” iteration that is expected to launch this summer in celebration of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

Reebok

Much like the mid-cut model, the Reebok Answer V Low features that unmistakeable shroud that extends up from the sole and through the side panels. The patriotic colorway opts for a white tumbled leather construction, highlighted by blue stars throughout the silhouette and a blue midsole/outsole combination. Additional details include gold, leather detailing over the laces, red sockliner, a red and blue I3 logo on the lateral portion of the shoe, and a gold velcro strap on the heel.

Check out the detailed photos below, and click here to preview some of the other Reebok Answer Vs on tap for 2020.

Reebok

Reebok

Reebok

Reebok

Reebok

At this year’s Golden Globes, host Ricky Gervais took aim at the celebrities in attendance. In his opening speech, the dark-humored comedian told his fellow famous faces to cut out all of the politics and to get on with the show. “If you do win an award tonight, don’t use it as a platform to make a political speech,” he quipped. “You’re in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world.”

That didn’t stop winner after winner from addressing issues ranging from climate change to abortion rights to the raging fires in Australia. It was clear that people with a platform are going to use it to speak on issues that they believe are important, but The International Olympic Committee (IOC) shared its three-page guidelines for the 2020 Tokyo games and they say political protests are out.

“We believe that the example we set by competing with the world’s best while living in harmony in the Olympic Village is a uniquely positive message to send to an increasingly divided world,” the IOC said in a statement, according to CBS News. “This is why it is important, on both a personal and a global level, that we keep the venues, the Olympic Village and the podium neutral and free from any form of political, religious or ethnic demonstrations.”

In the guidelines, they listed a few examples of what is considered to be a political protest. “Displaying any political messaging, including signs or armbands, gestures of a political nature, like a hand gesture or kneeling, refusal to follow the Ceremonies protocol,” they wrote. These rules come over 50 years after sprinter Tommie Smith, who won gold, and John Carlos, who won bronze, raised their fists during the medal ceremony as The Star-Spangled Banner played. Their gesture was in recognition of racial discrimination and for human rights, and they were both recently inducted into the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, the Tokyo Olympic Games are set to kick off on July 24.