Jason Kidd passes Magic for Assists

On Sunday, Dallas Maverick point guard, Jason Kidd, moved past Earvin Magic Johnson for the third spot in terms of All-time assists for the NBA. A pass from Kidd to Josh Howard for a jump shot was the milestone during a Mavs game against the Phoenix Suns.

Jason Kidd now has a career total of 10,142 assists, playing for three teams during his career thus far (Phoenix, Dallas, New Jersey). In Dallas for his early career, Kidd spent time alongside Jimmy Jackson and Jamal Mashburn, racking up assists. Once he was sent to New Jersey, he had even more teammates to dish to, including Richard Jefferson, Kenyon Martin and eventually high-flyer, Vince Carter. Last season, a trade saw Jason Kidd sent to the Mavs for multiple players including Devin Harris. Now in Dallas, Kidd has enjoyed having guys like Jason Terry, Josh Howard and former league MVP, Dirk Nowitski to pass for layups and jumpshots.

When Kidd's latest accomplishment was announced in Dallas, Mark Jackson was one of the spectators on his feet who at the time was serving as one of the commentators for the game. Kidd now takes third place behind Mark Jackson (10,334) and Utah Jazz great John Stockton (15,806) for overall assists.

Jordan Headed to Hall of Fame

(It's time...)

Michael Jordan is a six time NBA Champion, five time NBA MVP, won two Olympic Gold Medals and an NCAA Championship at University of North Carolina. Add to that multiple scoring titles, many all-star game appearances, retirement-comeback stories, taking a swing at a baseball career, playing ball with Bugs Bunny, lucrative endorsement deals as well as his own status as a CEO and brand. Now Jordan's impressive basketball resume has lead to him being named one of 16 finalists for the 2009 Hall of Fame. Was there any doubt?

A few of Jordan's Dream Team buddies have also been nominated. Former San Antonio Spur, David Robinson, one of the league's best assist-men in John Stockton (Utah Jazz), and sharpshooter Chris Mullin (Golden State Warriors) all were included as Finalists. Former Celtics great Dennis Johnson was nominated as were NBA Coaches Don Nelson and Jerry Sloan, and women's coach C. Vivian Stringer. The 16 finalists made a cut from 164 total choices.

According to Google News Associated Press:

Other finalists include former Golden State coach Al Attles, who was nominated as a contributor; Bob Hurley Sr., who has more than 900 wins at St. Anthony's High School in New Jersey; Vladimir Kondrashin, who coached the Soviet Union to the 1972 Olympic gold medal, defeating the U.S. in a controversial final; Pereira "Ubiratan" Maciel, a player known as "The King" in his native Brazil; Richie Guerin, a six-time NBA All-Star with the New York Knicks and a former player-coach with the St. Louis and Atlanta Hawks; and Johnny "Red" Kerr, a longtime Chicago Bulls commentator who was named NBA Coach of the Year in 1967 after leading the expansion Bulls into the playoffs in their first season.

The announcement of who gets in this year will be made on April 6th at the NCAA Final Four in Detroit. The official enshrinement comes September at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachussetts. While all 16 finalists can officially get elected are there any doubts over names like MJ, Stockton, Mullin, Bernard King and The Admiral making it?

Charles Barkley DUI Arrest

NBA Hall of Famer and current TNT NBA Analyst, Sir Charles Barkley, was arrested on New Years Eve (12/31/08) morning for a DUI in Arizona. The arrest was made by the Gilbert Police Department at a DUI Checkpoint when Barkley ran a stop sign. Barkley was blood tested on scene by mobile DUI task force and released from custody just a short time after the arrest, calling a taxi to pick him up. According to reports, Barkley told the cops he ran the stop sign due to the fact he was in a hurry to have sex with a female companion.

According to TMZ.com:

According to the officer who wrote the report, "He told me that he ran the stop sign because he was in a hurry to pick up the girl I saw get in the passenger seat."

The officer continues: "He asked me to admit that she was 'hot.' He asked me, 'You want the truth?' When I told him I did he said, 'I was gonna drive around the corner and get a b**w job. He then explained that she had given him a 'b**w job' one week earlier and said it was the best one he had ever had in his life."

Also according to the reports, the police impounded a handgun found in Barkley's vehicle, but there's no word on whether it was legal or not. Not sure if he needed it, but it's good that Barkley has D-Wade in his Fave 5 speed dial for that one call you get at the station to have someone bail you out.

See Photos of the Barkley arrest from TMZ.com

Should NBA Players be Betting?

Charley Rosen of FoxSports.com with an interesting article regarding the NBA and betting. The article is a response to a reader who raises the question, should gambling be outlawed completely in the NBA? More specifically, the article cites the past gambling issues and losses of Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley as well as "friendly wagers" that occur during shootarounds, games of HORSE and on the golf courts. Rosen discusses the many ways gambling by NBA players can hurt them overall.

Read the full article on the NBA's Gambling Problem here