Get To Know the 2009 Championship Ring

Since every Lakers player contributed in some way towards earning the franchise’s 15th championship to conclude the 2008-09 season, it was fitting that much of the organization’s brain trust had a say in the design of the championship ring to be given out prior to Tuesday’s game against the Clippers.

Several members of the Buss family - including Dr. Jerry Buss, Jeanie Buss, Joey Buss and Jesse Buss - joined Senior VP of Business Operations and CMO Tim Harris, GM Mitch Kupchak and team captains Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant to weigh in and produce a gem (so to speak).

Here are some of the ring’s details:

ARROWThe gold is of limited edition 15 karat variety to represent the 15th championship earned by the organization.

ARROWPer the request of Dr. Buss, there are 14 diamonds surrounding the top of the ring symbolizing the previous 14 franchise championships, with the Larry O’Brien trophy in the middle to represent the 2008-09 title.

ARROWAs requested by Fisher and Bryant, there is a player image on the side of player rings, and within that image rests an etching of their respective jersey numbers. For example, Kobe Bryant's image contains the No. 24 in the upper right hand corner of that side panel.

ARROWThe Los Angeles skyline is an element unique to non-player rings in place of the player’s image.

ARROWThe ring is two toned, with white gold representing the Lakers Sunday whites uniforms that honor legendary broadcaster Chick Hearn.

ARROWEach ring is authenticated by a serial number, and to further protect the authenticity, there are hidden etchings of the Lakers logo.

ARROWKupchak contributed the idea to include the varying records of every individual playoff series on the side of the ring, which was done in addition to having the season record to capture the journey of the entire season.

Marcus Camby, Baron Davis, Blake Griffin and Al Thornton Highlight the 2010 NBA All-Star Ballot Presented by T-Mobile

-- First Time in Balloting History Fans Can Text Their All-Star Votes --

-- Fans Can Vote on NBA.com, via Wireless Ballots, and in NBA Arenas --

DALLAS, Nov. 10, 2009 – The 2010 NBA All-Star Ballot was unveiled today during a special tip-off event in Dallas, the Official Host City of NBA All-Star 2010. NBA All-Star Balloting presented by T-Mobile will begin this afternoon at 12:30 p.m. ET. The 2010 NBA All-Star Game, which will air live on TNT and ESPN Radio in the U.S., and reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages, will be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, before an expected crowd of more than 80,000 – the largest group ever to witness a live basketball game, on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010.

2010 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by T-Mobile, with associate partner 2K Sports, allows fans around the world to vote daily for their favorite players as starters for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game. For the first time in balloting history, fans can vote for All-Stars any time by texting a player’s last name from their mobile phones. Fans can cast one SMS vote per day, per phone number.

There are several ways fans can cast their votes, including: at each NBA arena; in 20 languages on NBA.com; and through mobile phones by texting the player’s last name to 6-9-6-2-2 (“MYNBA”), via Web2Go® on T-Mobile phones or wap.nba.com for any wireless carrier. A T-Mobile-branded All-Star Balloting widget will also be available on NBA.com so that fans can “grab” the widget and place it on their blogs, social network pages, or personal Web sites allowing others to vote directly from the widget. Paper balloting will continue through Jan. 10, while wireless balloting and voting on NBA.com will conclude Jan. 18. Starters will be announced live on TNT on Thursday, Janaury 21, 2010.

The NBA All-Star ballot lists 120 players – 60 each from the Eastern and Western conferences – with 24 guards, 24 forwards, and 12 centers from each conference comprising the list. Voters select two guards, two forwards and one center from each conference. The 120 players on the ballot were selected by a panel of media who regularly cover the NBA: Mike Breen (ABC/ESPN), Eddie Sefko (Dallas Morning News), Doug Smith (The Toronto Star and President, Pro Basketball Writers Association) Marc Spears (Yahoo! Sports), Marc Stein (ESPN.com) and Ian Thomsen (Sports Illustrated).

NBA All-Star 2010 in Dallas will bring together some of the most talented and passionate players in the league’s history for a global celebration of the game. The week leading up to the 59th NBA All-Star Game will feature a full slate of community-enhancing activities and fan festivals, including NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas and the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam. This will be the second NBA All-Star in Dallas. The city also hosted the event in 1986.

In conjunction with All-Star Balloting, 2K Sports will give fans the opportunity to experience Dallas and the best of basketball by entering the NBA® 2K10 Sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to NBA All-Star 2010 and have their likeness as a digitized player incorporated in next year’s game, NBA® 2K11.

The following is a complete listing of the players as they appear on the ballot: 2010 NBA ALL-STAR EASTERN CONFERENCE BALLOT
EAST GUARDS (24) Allen, Ray, Boston
Arenas, Gilbert, Washington
Bibby, Mike, Atlanta
Calderon, Jose, Toronto
Carter, Vince, Orlando
Crawford, Jamal, Atlanta
Duhon, Chris, New York
Felton, Raymond, Charlotte
Ford, T.J., Indiana
Gordon, Ben, Detroit
Hamilton, Richard, Detroit
Harris, Devin, New Jersey
Hinrich, Kirk, Chicago
Johnson, Joe, Atlanta
Lee, Courtney, New Jersey
Nelson, Jameer, Orlando
Redd, Michael, Milwaukee
Robinson, Nate, New York
Rondo, Rajon, Boston
Rose, Derrick, Chicago
Salmons, John, Chicago
Stuckey, Rodney, Detroit
Wade, Dwyane, Miami
Williams, Mo, Cleveland EAST FORWARDS (24)
Beasley, Michael, Miami
Bosh, Chris, Toronto
Brand, Elton, Philadelphia
Butler, Caron, Washington
Deng, Luol, Chicago
Diaw, Boris, Charlotte
Garnett, Kevin, Boston
Granger, Danny, Indiana
Harrington, Al, New York
Haslem, Udonis, Miami
Iguodala, Andre, Philadelphia
James, LeBron, Cleveland
Jamison, Antawn, Washington
Lee, David, New York
Lewis, Rashard, Orlando
Murphy, Troy, Indiana
Pierce, Paul, Boston
Prince, Tayshaun, Detroit
Smith, Josh, Atlanta
Turkoglu, Hedo, Toronto
Varejao, Anderson, Cleveland
Villanuava, Charlie, Detroit
Wallace, Gerald, Charlotte
Warrick, Hakim, Milwaukee EAST CENTERS (12)
Bargnani, Andrea, Toronto
Bogut, Andrew, Milwaukee
Chandler, Tyson, Charlotte
Dalembert, Samuel, Philadelphia
Horford, Al, Atlanta
Howard, Dwight, Orlando
Lopez, Brook, New Jersey
Miller, Brad, Chicago
O'Neal, Jermaine, Miami
O'Neal, Shaquille, Cleveland
Perkins, Kendrick, Boston
Wallace, Rasheed, Boston
2010 NBA ALL-STAR WESTERN CONFERENCE BALLOT
WEST GUARDS (24)
Barbosa, Leandro, Phoenix
Billups, Chauncey, Denver
Brooks, Aaron, Houston
Bryant, Kobe, L.A. Lakers
Davis, Baron, L.A. Clippers
Ellis, Monta, Golden State
Ginobili, Manu, San Antonio
Howard, Josh, Dallas
Iverson, Allen, Memphis
Jackson, Stephen, Golden State
Kidd, Jason, Dallas
Martin, Kevin, Sacramento
Mayo, O.J., Memphis
McGrady, Tracy, Houston
Miller, Andre, Portland
Nash, Steve, Phoenix
Parker, Tony, San Antonio
Paul, Chris, New Orleans
Richardson, Jason, Phoenix
Roy, Brandon, Portland
Sessions, Ramon, Minnesota
Terry, Jason, Dallas
Westbrook, Russell, Oklahoma City
Williams, Deron, Utah WEST FORWARDS (24)
Aldridge, LaMarcus, Portland
Anthony, Carmelo, Denver
Ariza, Trevor, Houston
Artest, Ron, L.A. Lakers
Boozer, Carlos, Utah
Duncan, Tim, San Antonio
Durant, Kevin, Oklahoma City
Gasol, Pau, L.A. Lakers
Gay, Rudy, Memphis
Green, Jeff, Oklahoma City
Griffin, Blake, L.A. Clippers
Hill, Grant, Phoenix
Jefferson, Richard, San Antonio
Love, Kevin, Minnesota
Marion, Shawn, Dallas
Martin, Kenyon, Denver
Millsap, Paul, Utah
Nowitzki, Dirk, Dallas
Odom, Lamar, L.A. Lakers
Randolph, Anthony, Golden State
Scola, Luis, Houston
Thompson, Jason, Sacramento
Thornton, Al, L.A. Clippers
West, David, New Orleans WEST CENTERS (12)
Biedrins, Andris, Golden State
Bynum, Andrew, L.A. Lakers
Camby, Marcus, L.A. Clippers
Gasol, Marc, Memphis
Hawes, Spencer, Sacramento
Jefferson, Al, Minnesota
McDyess, Antonio, San Antonio
Nene, Denver
Oden, Greg, Portland
Okafor, Emeka, New Orleans
Okur, Mehmet, Utah
Stoudemire, Amar’e, Phoenix

Streetball - Let There Be Light

Streetball - Let There Be Light on Streetball.

Streetball - Let There Be Light on Streetball.

In the beginning, God created Streetball. And Streetball was without form and void. And darkness was upon the face of the game. And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the game and God said, Let There Be Light. And there was Light. And God saw the Light, and it was Good. And God divided the Light from the darkness.