Kris Humphries edges LeBron James as NBA's most disliked

Everybody hates Kris ... well, a lot of people do anyway.

Kris Humphries -- the New Jersey Nets power forward who gained national notoriety with his 72-day marriage to reality TV star Kim Kardashian earlier this year -- is the most disliked player in the NBA, according to a survey conducted by Nielsen and E-Poll Market Research and reported on Forbes.com.

Humphries received a 50% dislike score to edge Miami Heat superstar LeBron James, who got 48%. James topped the survey last year in the aftermath of his televised decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers.

For Humphries, an otherwise little-known role player who just re-signed with the Nets for one year and $8 million, it likely was the attention he received after the split with Kardashian and maybe some general public fatigue that pushed him to the top of the list.

“He’s been on five magazine covers, all in a negative light,” Nielsen Sports vice president Stephen Master said. “It’s all so recent, he’s gotten all this publicity for something other than basketball talent.”

Two Lakers appear in the top five -- Kobe Bryant at No. 3 (45%) and Metta World Peace at No. 5 (36%). Lamar Odom, who was traded from the Lakers to the Dallas Mavericks earlier this month, came in at No. 10. Odom is married to another Kardashian sister, Khloe.

Also in the top 10: San Antonio Spurs' Tony Parker at No. 4, the Heat's Chris Bosh at No. 6, New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony at No. 7 , Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce at No. 8 and the Heat's Dwyane Wade at No. 9.

According to Forbes, the survey targeted the broad population, not just NBA fans.

ALSO:

T.J. Simers: Even with Kobe Bryant, Lakers' status is questionable

Photos: Kobe and Vanessa Bryant and other notable athlete divorces

Kobe Bryant's wrist injury leaves his status for Lakers' opener in doubt

Photo: Kris Humphries. Credit: Justin Lane / EPA

New Jersey Nets' Kris Humphries engaged to Kim Kardashian

Are the New Jersey Nets trying to become the Lakers of the Eastern Conference? They already have a pair of players who won NBA championship rings in L.A. (Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic). And soon they also will have their very own Kardashian as a team wife, just like the Lakers.

According to People magazine, Nets forward Kris Humphries is engaged to his girlfriend of six months, reality TV star Kim Kardashian, whose sister Khloe married the Lakers' Lamar Odom back in 2009.

Humphries, 26, proposed to Kardashian, 30, last week on bended knee in the bedroom of her Beverly Hills home with the words "will you marry me?" spelled out in rose petals, the magazine said. He also gave her a 20.5-carat Lorraine Schwartz diamond ring.

"I just knew I wanted it to be big," said Humphries, who averaged career highs in points (10.0) and rebounds (10.4) in his seventh NBA season last year.

The magazine also reports that the couple celebrated their engagement with an "intimate family celebration" that included two mini-horses covered in glitter.

No word yet if Kim and Kris will get their own spinoff show, like "Khloe and Lamar."

ALSO:

Coaching candidate profile: Mike Brown

Poll: Do you think Mike Brown is a good choice for Lakers coach?

-- Chuck Schilken

Top photo: Kris Humphries. Credit: Jim O'Connor / US Presswire

Bottom photo: Kim Kardashian. Credit: David Livingston / Getty Images

USA Coach Krzyzewski concerned about size mismatch against Russia

It’s no longer the Cold War on the basketball court, but the USA versus Russia quarterfinals match Thursday at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey is still a big event.

USA Coach Mike Krzyzewski said Wednesday he’s concerned about his team being undersized against a Russian team with an average height of 6-foot-8.

The Russians are led by centers Timofey Mozgov, a 7-foot-1, 250-pounder who leads his team in scoring (12.5 points a game), and 6-foot-11, 249-pound Sasha Kaun (11.5 points, 6.5 rebounds). You’ll be seeing more of Mozgov, 24, who was signed by the New York Knicks this summer. Krzyzewski also is concerned about Russia’s burly 6-foot-7 point guard Anton Ponkrashov, who’s averaging 7.3 points and 5.8 assists a game.

Krzyzewski plans to start the Lakers' Lamar Odom at center. The 6-foot-10 Odom has been quiet on offense (five points a game) in the tournament, but is tied with Kevin Durant for the team lead in rebounding (six per game). Expect 7-foot-1 Tyson Chandler to also get more playing time in Thursday’s game to offset Russia’s size.

Despite Krzyzewski’s worries, Betus.com thinks the game is a mismatch, making the Americans a whopping 23 1/2-point favorite. The USA-Russia game starts 8 a.m. Pacific time Thursday.

Durant has been the player of the tournament for the USA, leading them in scoring (17.7) and getting an open shot from anywhere on the court. Meanwhile, Eric Gordon has been the USA's spark plug off the bench, averaging 11.3 points and shooting 54% from beyond the three-point line.

If the U.S. beats Russia, they play the winner of Lithuania-Argentina in the semifinals. Serbia faces Turkey in the other semifinal. The finals are Sunday.

-- Barry Stavro

Photo: USA Coach Mike Krzyzewski and Kevin Durant during Monday's win over Angola. Credit: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

Lamar Odom, Eric Gordon make final cut on USA men's basketball team

Today was final roster cut day for the USA men's basketball team -- and the Boston Celtics' All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo did not make the squad.

The final roster was announced as team USA gets ready for the FIBA World Championship tourney that starts Saturday in Turkey.

Lakers forward Lamar Odom and Clippers shooting guard Eric Gordon made the final roster of 12 players.

The other players on the final roster are: Chauncey Billups (Denver Nuggets), Tyson Chander (Dallas Mavericks), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder), Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies), Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers), Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers), Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves), Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls) and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder).

-- Barry Stavro

Photo: Clippers' Eric Gordon goes to the basket against Lakers' Lamar Odom in Oct. 2009. Credit: Andrew Gombert / EPA

Lakers' Lamar Odom, Clippers' Eric Gordon make cut as finalists for USA Basketball world championship team

Clippers guard Eric Gordon is still on the USA Basketball roster for this summer's world championships ... at least for now.

Thought to be in danger of being cut as the squad was trimmed down to 15 on Wednesday, Gordon remains on the squad that will reconvene Aug. 9 in New York. The roster must be reduced to 12 players by the time the world championships begin Aug. 28 in Turkey.

Lakers forward Lamar Odom is also one of the 15 finalists. So are former UCLA standouts forward Kevin Love (now with the Minnesota Timberwolves) and Russell Westbrook (now with the Oklahoma City Thunder). Former USC standout and current Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo did not make Wednesday's cut.

Also trimmed from the lineup Wednesday were NBA Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans and Charlotte forward Gerald Wallace.

The 2010 USA Basketball men's world championship team finalists:

Question of the Day: Will the Lakers three-peat? If not, who will stop them? [Updated]

 
Four reporters from the Tribune Co. weigh in on the topic. Check back throughout the day for more responses and feel free to leave a comment of your own.

Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel

Considering the NBA is about to undergo an extreme makeover, it is ludicrous to even try to handicap the 2010-11 championship race, let alone make any proclamations about a Lakers team that might not even have Phil Jackson leading the way.

That said, this hardly was a team of dominance this season, but rather one pushed to the ultimate limit in the ultimate game of the season. And even before the desperate scramble from a 3-2 Finals deficit, Kobe & Co. were being pushed to Game 6s against the Thunder and Suns.

No, let's first see where LeBron & Co. land.

Of course, should LeBron land with the Lakers in some sort of sign-and-trade, then there might not be a need for a debate, or 2010-11 season, at all.

[Updated at 12:20 p.m.:

K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune

The Lakers will repeat as long as Kobe Bryant draws a paycheck and Pau Gasol continues to supply his occasional bursts of magic.

And, no, this team isn't as dominant as those led by Magic. But with the Eastern Conference full of pretenders like the Orlando Magic and the Whatever LeBrons, that conference isn't ready. (The Celtics' Big Three made a valiant last gasp.) And the Suns' surprising advancement to this season's Western Conference finals shows how lacking the Lakers' substantive competition is.

Yes, this title was tougher. But Tim Duncan is a year older, the Oklahoma City Thunder are a year or two too young and Kobe lives for history. He should get it in the form of his second three-peat, matching his idol, good ol' MJ.]

[Updated at 1:30 p.m.:

Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel 

Get ready for a three-peat, Los Angeles. The Lakers should be considered the favorites to win a third consecutive NBA title next June, as long as Phil Jackson returns as head coach.

The nucleus of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom and Ron Artest is under contract for the 2010-11 season. Bynum should be healthy. Even if Derek Fisher retires, Mitch Kupchak should be able to find a point guard to fill the void.

The big question marks revolve around Jackson and LeBron James. Jackson steadies the Lakers, and without him the star-filled Lakers could lose sight of the team concept.

James adds another variable to the equation. If he joins Dwyane Wade in Miami, the Heat immediately would join the league’s elite and could cause the Lakers (and everyone else) headaches.

In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the team of the future. But for one more year at least, the Lakers should be the class of the conference.]

Photo: Big men Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum embrace in the middle of the Lakers' celebration on the Staples Center court after an 83-79 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Question of the day: Who will win the NBA Finals? [Updated]

Four reporters from Tribune Co. weigh in on the topic. Check back throughout the day for more responses, and feel free to leave a comment of your own.

[Updated at 12:01 p.m.:

Baxter Holmes, Los Angeles Times

This question is tougher than calculus at Cal Tech – not that I’d know – when you consider the outside variables: the crowds, the emotions (rivalry and revenge factors both) and the health of key players.

I’d like to plead the 5th until after Game 1, but if pressed, I like the Celtics.

Ron Artest is a great defender, but Paul Pierce won't get caught with his pants down unless Artest’s hand is around his waistband. Andrew Bynum is a potential equalizer against the Celtics’ imposing front line, but even if his right knee is 2 1/2 ounces lighter after Monday, I’m not convinced he’s ready. There’s always Kobe, but he was there in 2008 too.

In the end, the Celtics are brutes, the Lakers are finesse. Brutes in seven.]

Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Lakers in six, because it's not 2008 anymore.

Because this time Ron Artest is in place to defend Paul Pierce.

Because this time Andrew Bynum is at least ambulatory to help offset some of Boston's inside physicality.

Because this time Pau Gasol can be cast at power forward instead of at center.

Because this time Vladimir Radmanovic won't be in the starting lineup, or anywhere within sight.

Because this time Lamar Odom again can play as a sixth man.

Because this time the Celtics do not have a perimeter stopper of the pedigree of James Posey (with Tony Allen less than a poor imitation).

Because this time the Lakers have home-court advantage, meaning even if the Celtics split the first two, they would have to sweep at home to close it out at the Garden.

Brian Schmitz, Orlando Sentinel

The NBA and its TV partners would surely love to have this royal retro couple -- Lakers and Celtics -- play a best-of-17 series instead of a best-of-seven.

Stretch this baby out until the NFL camps open or until one of Kevin Garnett's body parts falls off defending Pau Gasol.

I'm taking the Lakers in seven for the repeat and for revenge (Boston beat L.A. in '08), but only after under going intense counseling.

I mean, do you know hard it is to trust a Lakers team that is counting on loose cannon Ron Artest to help it win a ring?

This is the ultimate test to remind you just how great Kobe Bryant is.

He's won without Shaq, and he'll win with Artest.

Photo: Ron Artest is guarded by Celtics forward Paul Pierce in February. Credit: Lori Shepler / Associated Press

Ted Green: Phoenix has permanent sun damage

They're a Phoenix that rose, then got turned into ashes.

The last time a sun had this bad a day, I lived in Chicago.

Sunscreen, sunblock, pick your bad sun pun, they all apply.

They say the sun can't explode, but it looks like their confidence did.

If the Phoenix Suns came into the Western Conference finals with swagger, it's been replaced by stagger.

Or was that a dagger?

Adjustments? Sure, if they see a chiropractor. Steve Nash's back will appreciate the visit.

It's lucky Nash has only one good eye. The bad eye is grateful it didn't have to see that mess.

Lamar Odom versus Louie Amundson? I'll take Odom, even if Amundson throws in that nice downtown L.A. theatre he owns.

After watching that demolition derby, I'm changing my prediction. It was Lakers in five. It's now Lakers in three.

Seriously, the Suns are a small, feisty team, a fun team, a good team too, but there are more mismatches in this series than on any Internet dating site.

It's a good thing Jared Dudley was "gonna do some things" to disrupt Kobe, like "get under him," "flop" and "hit his finger," as Dudley brashly, foolishly promised on his Twitter account. So what "things" did Dudley do? He got whistled for two fouls in a space of like 10 seconds while the Mamba was dropping 40.

Can't wait for Dudley's next tweet. It should read: HELP!

It might be just one game, but the last time anyone delivered a message as definitive as this one, it was Paul Revere on a horse, telling the colonists that the British were coming.

The Suns can't match up with the Lakers' front line if you take Robin Lopez and add Brook Lopez, George Lopez and Jennifer Lopez.

Like everyone else, I'll watch the rest of the series because:

A) It's the NBA's final four

B) It's the Lake Show

C) It's intriguing to see if they can repeat, and

D) I get paid to do it.

But the writing's already on the wall in big, bold letters, some purple, some gold, some kelly green:

BRING ON THE CELTICS.

-- Ted Green

Green formerly covered the Lakers for the L.A. Times. He is now senior sports producer for KTLA News.

Photo: Kobe Bryant drives past Suns defenders Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley on Monday night. Credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times.

Eric Gordon selected to USA Basketball Men's National Team

Eric Gordon, Olympian?

Not yet, but the Clippers shooting guard was selected Wednesday among the pool of 27 players who will eventually comprise the USA Basketball Men's National Team, a precursor to making the roster for the 2012 Olympics in London.

Also on the preliminary team list are Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and forward Lamar Odom. The team will compete in the FIBA World Championships from Aug. 28 to Sept. 12 in Turkey, with the U.S. opening play Aug. 28 against Croatia. The U.S. also is paired in the same preliminary-round group with Brazil, Iran, Slovenia and Tunisia.

The team will open training camp in July, after which the roster will be winnowed for the competition in Turkey.

-- Ben Bolch

Nine Olympic gold medalists named to 2010-12 U.S. national basketball team

Nine Olympic gold medalists, including Lakers star Kobe Bryant, are among 27 players who have been selected to the 2010-12 U.S. national team roster.

Each of the players, chosen by USA Basketball on Wednesday, are eligible to represent the country at this summer's world championships and the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Lakers forward Lamar Odom and Clippers guard Eric Gordon also made the roster.

"Special recognition and acknowledgment needs to go to the nine players returning from our 2008 Olympic team," USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo said. "They have demonstrated that they are the heart and soul of our program and their commitment to continue to represent their county should not be overlooked."

Duke men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski will also return to coach the team.

Players
Kobe Bryant	Derrick Rose
LeBron James	Chauncey Billups
Dwayne Wade	Amare Stoudemire
Chris Bosh	Lamar Odom
Chris Paul	O.J. Mayo
Dwight Howard	Kevin Love
Carmelo Anthony	Rudy Gay
Deron Williams	Al Jefferson
Danny Granger	David Lee
Brook Lopez	Russell Westbrook
LaMarcus Aldridge	Eric Gordon
Gerald Wallace	Andre Iguodala
Kendrick Perkins	Carlos Boozer
Kevin Durant

-- Austin Knoblauch

Photo: Kobe Bryant. Credit: Dusan Vranic / Associated Press

Lakers visit White House, meet President Obama

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Lakers came in first to a standing ovation in the East Room of the White House today, all of them wearing suits for their visit to meet the president of the United States, most of them looking excited and nervous.

Then President Obama came in, bounding up to the podium to an ovation that included all the Lakers’ players, all of them with smiles on their faces.

Obama congratulated the Lakers for winning the franchise’s 15th NBA championship, a 4-1 NBA Finals victory in June over the Orlando Magic, which was their fourth in the last decade.

It was clear that Obama, a basketball fan who plays when he gets the chance, was fully aware of what the Lakers accomplished and who all the players were.

“I still get enormous, enormous pleasure from watching great athletes on the court, and nobody exemplifies excellence in basketball better than the Los Angeles Lakers last year,” Obama said.

Kobe Bryant presented Obama with a Lakers’ jersey No.1, and Derek Fisher gave the president an autographed basketball.