As any Lakers fan, or regular reader of this blog, knows, Shannon Brown can rise. The NBA has taken notice of his dunks this season, as well as the groundswell of support the fans have shown through LetShannonDunk.com, and put the Lakers guard into the 2010 Slam Dunk Contest along with Nate Robinson, Gerald Wallace and the winner of the new “dunk-in” comepetition between DeMar DeRozen and Eric Gordon.
Here’s the official release for the Lakers PR staff:
Los Angeles Lakers guard Shannon Brown was selected to compete in the Sprite Slam Dunk contest which will take place on NBA All-Star Saturday Night, Feb. 13, at American Airlines Center (8 p.m. ET on TNT) in Dallas, it was announced today.
Brown, who will be the first Lakers player to compete in the contest since teammate Kobe Bryant won the title as a rookie in 1997, will go against the 2009 Sprite Slam Dunk champion Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks as well as the Charlotte Bobcats’ Gerald Wallace. The final competitor in the contest will be decided at the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk-In, a single-round slam dunk competition that will feature Eric Gordon of the Los Angeles Clippers and DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors and will be held at halftime of the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam on Friday, Feb. 12.
The website www.letshannondunk.com was created to help bring attention to Brown’s wide array of dunks so far this season, while also giving NBA fans across the world the opportunity to get to know the 6-4 guard from Michigan State.
Brown, who has played in all 40 games this season, is currently averaging 7.3 points and 1.1 assists in 18.4 minutes.
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month for games played during December.
Bryant led the NBA in scoring for December with 31.3 points per game, while helping the Lakers to a Western Conference-best 12-3 record. He also finished in the top 10 in the Western Conference in assists (5.0 apg), free throw percentage (.857), steals (1.9 spg) and minutes (40.1 mpg). Bryant recorded two double-doubles, including a 44-point, 11-assist effort – both season highs – against the Golden State Warriors on Dec. 29. On Christmas Day, he recorded 35 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in a loss to the Cavaliers. Bryant won back-to-back Western Conference Player of the Week awards (Dec. 21 and 28).
Here is a closer look at the month for Bryant:
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Dec. 16 at Milwaukee: Drained his final two points (39 total) at the buzzer to beat the Bucks 107-106.
Dec. 19 @ New Jersey: Scored 29 points, collected a season-high 10 rebounds and handed out five assists in a 103-84 win over the Nets.
Dec. 25 vs. Cleveland: Recorded 35 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in a 102-87 loss to the Cavaliers
Dec. 29 vs. Golden State: Posted season highs in points (44) and assists (11) in a 124-118 Lakers win.
To no one’s surprise, Finals MVP Kobe Bryant’s bid to go wire-to-wire as the leading All-Star vote getter is still going strong. Bryant’s more than 1.6 million votes put him ahead of Cleveland’s LeBron James and Miami’s Dwyane Wade as voting nears it’s conclusion on January 18th.
In the Western Forwards category the bad news was that Pau Gasol’s slim 700 vote lead on San Antonio’s Tim Duncan evaporated as he now trails Duncan. But there is good news, both closed the gap on second place Dirk Nowitzki, who’s Dallas Mavericks are hosting All-Star Weekend this year. Being that only the top two make it automatically, that’s all that really matters. Don’t forget to VOTE FOR PAU, VOTE FOR PAU, VOTE FOR PAU
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant still leads all vote getters as the NBA released the All-Star ballot second returns on Thursday.
Teammate Pau Gasol is currently third for Western Conference forwards, trailing Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki, and center Andrew Bynum is second at his position.
The 2010 All-Star Game will air live from Cowboys Stadium on Sunday February, 14th. Voting closes on January 18th. Just 24 days to vote.
This highlight is from the Bucks broadcast (so excuse the “MISS IT!!” as the shot goes up), but here’s the video of Kobe’s buzzer beating game-winner in Milwaukee Wednesday night.
By now most Lakers fans know the deal when it comes to which uniforms the team will wear night-to-night. Purple on the road, gold at home except for Sunday’s, Holiday and special occasions when they break out the white unis.
Tonight is the exception. With the Jazz opting to wear their throwback alternate green kit with yellow accents (the same ones they wore at STAPLES on Wednesday) the Lakers will don their home gold duds in hostile territory.
The game is set for a 6pm tip on KCAL/9 HD and 710ESPN.
Normally former Lakers forward Mychal Thompson mans the seat next to Spero Dedes for the team’s radio broadcast on 710ESPN, but due to a death in the family, MT will be missing the Lakers games against Minnesota and at Utah.
Keeping the seat warm is current Lakers forward Luke Walton, who is still recovering from a back injury. Check out 710 ESPN to hear the unique perspective that only a current player can give.
Before tonight’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves former Lakers player and assistant coach Kurt Rambis received his 2009 NBA Championship Ring from head coach Phil Jackson. After being presented with is ring the entire Lakers squad came over to congratulate their former assistant coach before turning their attention to his current team.
From the NBA Press Release: 
By now most Lakers fans know the deal when it comes to which uniforms the team will wear night-to-night. Purple on the road, gold at home except for Sunday’s, Holiday and special occasions when they break out the white unis.
Normally former Lakers forward Mychal Thompson mans the seat next to Spero Dedes for the team’s radio broadcast on 710ESPN, but due to a death in the family, MT will be missing the Lakers games against Minnesota and at Utah. 
Before tonight’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves former Lakers player and assistant coach Kurt Rambis received his 2009 NBA Championship Ring from head coach Phil Jackson. After being presented with is ring the entire Lakers squad came over to congratulate their former assistant coach before turning their attention to his current team. 
