Magic Johnson shared his memories Jerry Buss during NBA Countdown on ESPN on Wednesday night. “He touched my life in such an incredible way, I owe him a lot,” said an emotional Magic who will be speaking at Thursday’s memorial service.

Missed Michael Jordan’s interview with Ahmad Rashad on Monday night? Thanks to Jose3030, you can watch it in full here. Watch as Jordan revisits his legendary NBA career and gives his thoughts on the league today. A must watch for any NBA fan.

Michael Jordan turns 50 tomorrow, and to commemorate the milestone, the sports world has been taking a look back at some of MJ’s greatest moments. One of those came in the 1989 playoffs when Jordan silenced the doubters and hit a game-winner over Craig Ehlo to put his Bulls past the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the first round. It’s become known as “The Shot”, as I’m sure Jordan fans can recite the iconic replay as called by the late great Jim Durham…”Here’s Michael at the foul line, the shot on Ehlo…GOOD!” In rare footage uploaded to YouTube today, a videographer catches the play amongst the Cleveland fans in the Coliseum at Richfield and the raw sequence is pretty amazing:

Check out this amazing fan-made blooper reel of the funniest plays of the season thus far – it’s a must watch!

Kyrie Irving put on a show late in the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge and showed off his handles and completely embarrasses Brandon Knight:

The NBA announced the participants for the 2013 rookie/sophomore All-Star Rising Stars Challenge in Houston.  The following players will be “drafted” by Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley in a similar fashion as last year.  According to NBA.com, each team will have nine man rosters, consisting of both NBA rookies and sophomores drafted from a pool that was previously selected by the NBA’s assistant coaches. Fans will have the opportunity to vote online for who should be in the starting lineup for each team.

Rookies: Bradley Beal, Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Damian Lillard, Dion Waiters, Tyler Zeller, Alexey Shved

Sophomores: Kenneth Faried, Brandon Knight, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, Chandler Parsons, Klay Thompson, Tristan Thompson, Nikola Vucevic, Kemba Walker

Per TNT’s broadcast, here are your 2012-2013 NBA All-Star Reserves:

EAST:

Tyson Chandler (1st time)

Chris Bosh

Jrue Holiday (1st time)

Paul George (1st time)

Kyrie Irving (1st time)

Luol Deng

Joakim Noah (1st time)

WEST:

James Harden (1st time)

Tony Parker

David Lee

LaMarcus Aldridge

Zach Randolph

Russell Westbrook

TNT announced the starters voted in by fans on Thursday night for the 2013 NBA All-Star Game in Houston on February 17:

EAST: Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics, 4x), Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat, 9x), Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks, 6x), LeBron James (Miami Heat, 9x), Kevin Garnett (Boston Celtics, 15x)

WEST: Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers, 6x), Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers, 15x), Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder, 4x), Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers, 3x), Dwight Howard (Los Angeles Lakers, 7x).

The reserves will be announced on TNT on January 24th.

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The NBA & adidas unveiled the 2013 All-Star jersey’s that will be worn next month in Houston:

Players around the league reacted to the news that former Brooklyn Nets’ coach Avery Johnson, October/November’s Coach of the Month, was fired on Thursday:

Avery got fired? He was just coach of the month wasn’t he? That’s like a player get Player of the Month then gets traded the next month #NBA

— LeBron James (@KingJames) December 27, 2012

They gave Avery the ax? Wasn’t my man just coach of the month? Cold Game. — Daniel Gibson Sr. (@BooBysWorld1) December 27, 2012

Wait, didn’t Avery Johnson just get coach of the month? — Kendall Marshall (@KButter5) December 27, 2012

I appreciate everything Coach Avery. Good luck in all your endeavors moving forward.

— Kris Humphries (@KrisHumphries) December 27, 2012

One of the best coaches I’ve had and a great man is Avery Johnson. No question I learned alot from him in 2 years.

— Anthony Morrow (@MrAnthonyMorrow) December 27, 2012

Avery Johnson is a good coach tweeps.That caught everybody by surprise. We was like wooooooow!!!!! in practice

— Mo Williams (@mowilliams) December 27, 2012

Avery Johnson is a first class Coach and a First class Person, I learned a lot from him! Wishing him and his family nothing but the best

— ReggieEvans30 (@ReggieEvans30) December 27, 2012

“When I heard the news it was tough,” said Jason Terry who played for Johnson in Dallas. “I know he put his heart and soul into trying to make Brooklyn a winner. And I believe in his system to this day.”

“It’s awful,” Doc Rivers said of Johnson’s firing. “It’s the business we’re in. But it’s a tough one. He’s one of my best friends.

Rivers added, “it comes out of nowhere. Avery is a terrific coach, so who knows.”

via CSN New England

“Avery is a good friend of mine, so my thoughts might be a different take than anybody else’s,” Williams said after the Hornets practice. “It’s just unfortunate. He just got Coach of the Month and he got fired. That’s all you need to say.”

via The Times-Picayune

NBA Christmas Day players sign their rendition of the holiday classic, “Jingle Bells”: