Tag: LeBron James

LBJ and his ‘Rat Pack’ didn’t tip their casino servers at CP3′s wedding

It looks as even the richest of the NBA superstars are penching their pennies during the lockout.

Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Norm Clarke had an where he describes the penurious ways of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony at Chris Paul’s recent extended bachelor’s party last month in his city.

The group received complimentary benefits while partying at the Cosmopolitan Club and Palazzo. But Clarke reports they forgot about their servers as they allegedly failed to leave any gratuities while they were there. The exchange is about at the 8-minute mark of the interview.

“People at the Cosmopolitan said when Chris Paul had his bachelor party here last month, he had LeBron in and the whole gang,” Clarke said.  “They were comped well into the morning.  The word is that they never left a tip for any night that they were out getting comped.  We’ve heard that about LeBron, that’s been common.”

If the story is true, LBJ and his posse are following in the footsteps of some notable NBA superstars before him as Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were similarly cheap on some of their Vegas trips.

“I’m sure you’ve heard the nicknames that Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen had out here,” Clarke said. “The dealers called him  ‘Hoardin’ Jordan’, and Pippen was ‘Scottie No-tippin’ Pippen’.”

It’s not a good way for today’s top basketball players to build much support among the public among their fans by stiffing their servers.

The economy is bad for them, too.

Creating a monster: Olajuwon trying to refine LBJ’s inside game

The rest of the NBA should be very afraid.

The news that LeBron James has turned to postgame guru Hakeem Olajuwon could help refine one of the league’s very best players in an area of his biggest weakness.

Forget about the perimeter game and the passing. If James ever added a consistent inside component, he might fulfill the promise of becoming “The King” for the NBA.

It was almost painful at times to watch James attempt to score against the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals.

Give him credit for .

“Right now I’ve just been focusing on being a better player, working on my game every single day,” James told the Associated Press in comments reported by Pro Basketball Talk.com. “Like I said, the Dallas Mavericks were a great team and they deserved to win that championship. And I’ll just use that as motivation coming into this season.”

That has taken him to Houston, where he’s working with the Hall of Famer Olajuwon to bolster his inside play.

Olajuwon practically refined post play during his career, which included an MVP in 1994 and two NBA titles.

“I look at what he was able to do throughout his career,” James said. “Unbelievable talent. Multiple champion. Just to see how he was able to dominate in the low post, for me as an individual, I just try to look at some of the things I feel I need to get better at and hit home at it. Our team becomes better if I continue to get better and that’s what it’s about.”

Finesse added to James’ bullish strength could be a deadly combination.

Consider the rest of the NBA to be duly warned if the work with Olajuwon improves James’ game.