In this older ESPN article, Todd Boyd, scholar and cultural critique, breaks down their entangled histories. As much as David Stern has tried to surpress it, you can't deny the force of hip-hop and black cultural and political formations in the public sphere!

"Baron Davis, Golden State – unrestricted (early termination option): With the way the Warriors season ended – with Davis watching from the bench in the second half a before their season finale – his relationship with head coach Don Nelson appears in tatters. Now Davis, according to multiple sources, could be the odd man out with the Warriors clearly looking to make Monta Ellis the primary scoring focus next season. Does this mean Davis (21.8 points, 7.6 assists per game) will opt out and decide to leave Golden State? If there was ever a time it could be this offseason. His stats are as impressive as ever (ranked second in league in steals per game – 2.33, sixth in assists per game, eighth in total points – 1791) and unlike some past seasons, Davis started all 82 games for the Warriors and the health concerns that once hampered him have disappeared. Although Davis (who is due $17 million next season, a hefty price tag Portland is sure to shun) has already said he wants to stay and "win a championship" with the Warriors, but hasn't officially said he'll return."-- Wendell Maxey [Hoopsworld]

He was straight robbed in 2005-2006 when the voters made Steve Nash the worst 2 time MVP of all time, but this year he couldn't be denied. Kobe Bryant is the NBA's 2007-2008 Most Valuable Player and deservedly so. While the media and public at large were fawning over a young center who only played 35 games this year (what if they had Jason Kidd right now instead?) and complaining about the lopsided Pau Gasol trade (Gasol missed 10 games as a Laker), Kobe was bringing it and leading his team to the #1 seed in the West.

"Beyond trade scenarios, the remaining free agents who might intrigue the Mavericks include Chicago's Chris Duhon, Denver's Eduardo Najera, Golden State's Matt Barnes and Mickael Pietrus, Miami's Earl Barron and Utah's C.J. Miles." -- Eddie Sefko [Dallas Morning News]