HoopsHype.com Rumors

Keith Dambrot, James’ high school coach and the current head coach at Akron, told The New York Times this summer that Krzyzewski took “one of the greatest talents in the world, maybe ever, and he got him to play defense like a guy at Duke.” That quote made former Duke star Shane Battier laugh out loud when it was relayed to him. “You know what? LeBron could have played at Duke, and I don’t say that about a lot of guys,” Battier said. “There are a lot of All-Stars who couldn’t have played at Duke. LeBron is one of the few All-Stars who could have played there and survived. “You have to be mentally tough. You have to know the game — you can’t be some idiot out there, some dummy running around. You have to play for the team and be selfless. Those are all of LeBron James’ qualities.” Miami Herald

Miami Heat, LeBron James, NCAA, Shane Battier 

The Heat last season ranked just 21st in the NBA in rebounds, although they were No. 1 in fewest allowed. Regardless, the acquisitions of perimeter guys Allen and Lewis won't help the board work too much. “When we played well in the past, we rebounded the basketball," Battier said. “When we struggled, we haven't rebounded it. I think we'll get people to miss. We'll be active on defense. Can we finish possessions with defensive rebounds?" FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, Shane Battier 

"It's good for Tracy," McGrady's former Houston team mate Shane Battier said. "Maybe he thinks it's the best chance to be the Tracy they all know," Battier added. "Maybe he just wants something new and different, which a lot of guys do after playing in the NBA for so long. China's definitely a good choice." 560 WGAN

Houston Rockets, Tracy McGrady, David Stern, China, Shane Battier 

Well, I guess we now know that Terrel Harris is going to make the team. Harris and Dexter Pittman were introduced as endorsers of Peak on Saturday in Shanghai during a promotional press conference that included Shane Battier. Peak is a local sponsor of the Heat. Nothing is certain, but it seems unlikely for Heat coach Erik Spoelstra to cut Harris at this point. Harris does not have a guaranteed contract for this season. Miami Herald

Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra, Sneakers, Dexter Pittman, Shane Battier, Terrel Harris 

"When you're playing a game, you're so used to playing instinctively," Heat forward Shane Battier said, as he snapped his fingers to mimic the typical split-second timing of NBA decisions. "When you get a wide-, wide-open three, you're naked. You have time to think and rationalize, and that's counterintuitive to how we normally play. We normally play instinctively -- time to think and time to react only. But when you have time to think in basketball, calculation often leads to miscalculation." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, Shane Battier 

Battier will look at you with a straight face and tell you he’s not one of the NBA’s serial floppers. “Listen, I don’t flop like a lot of these guys,” Battier said. “I know a lot of people say I flop, but I’m too old for that.” Then, after a few minutes of bantering, Battier will tell you he’s “wholeheartedly against” the NBA’s new “anti-flopping” rule. “Reputation may play a big role in it,” Battier said. Miami Herald

Miami Heat, Referees, Shane Battier 

During a quiet moment, Wade admitted that he could not have envisioned the formula that ultimately delivered the Heat a championship, one that had Shane Battier starting at power forward in the playoffs, something that did not happen a single time during the 2011-12 regular season. "You feel it out, and understand that throughout the year it changes," he said. "I think we'll come in with the mentality that our success is us winning as a team, and all of us being successful at the same time." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade, Shane Battier, Training Camp 

He liberally changed the lyrics of his songs to reference local totems such as sports teams, Little Caesars pizza and Pine Knob, his usual summer stop, and even recalled an early career stop at the Raven Gallery in Southfield. Buffett also incorporated a couple of local guests into the show as well: guitar hero Earl Klugh for "Jamiaca Mistaica" and "Come Monday" and, more surprisingly, hoopster Shaine Battier -- the Birmingham-born, Detroit Country Day and University of Michigan grad who now plays for the Miami Heat -- to play congas on "Margaritaville," though not well enough for him to think about hanging up the sneakers. The Oakland Press

Miami Heat, Shane Battier 

Shane Battier: Huge show tonight. Lionel Ritchie and Jimmy Buffett live at Comerica Park. Rumor has it that there will a tall, good looking conga player. Twitter

Miami Heat, Shane Battier 

Eric Koreen: In justifying the contract, BC compares Fields to Shane Battier Twitter

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo, Landry Fields, Shane Battier 

Shane Battier will be among those competing in the celebrity American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe next weekend. He’ll be out there with Michael Jordan, Aaron Rodgers, Jason Kidd, Tony Romo and John Elway, among others. (Ray Allen was on the original player list, but he suddenly has other matters to attend to.) Palm Beach Post

Ray Allen, Michael Jordan, Jason Kidd, Shane Battier 

Tim Reynolds: NBA champion Shane Battier expected to throw out the first pitch at Marlins Park today. Twitter

Shane Battier 

Shane Battier: "When I won the championship at Duke I was the ring leader and that was my team so there was a certain satisfaction of being the guy, being the team captain and here I was one of the role players and I had an important role but the 11 year journey makes this one sweet in a different way and for a long time I never thought I’d get a chance" Sports Radio Interviews

Miami Heat, Shane Battier 

Chris Tomasson: NBA active players who have NCAA & NBA rings: Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers, Rip Hamilton, Jason Terry, Corey Brewer, Nazr Mohammed. Twitter

Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, Nazr Mohammed, Mario Chalmers, Corey Brewer, Jason Terry, Shane Battier 

Chris Tomasson: NBA active players who have NCAA & NBA rings: Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers, Rip Hamilton, Jason Terry, Corey Brewer, Nazr Mohammed. Twitter

Miami Heat, Richard Hamilton, Nazr Mohammed, Mario Chalmers, Corey Brewer, Jason Terry, Shane Battier 

But we know what James is now, the most prominent of athletes at the peak of his powers who's figured out that replacing arrogance with humility isn't that hard. The reality always was that James would never get the benefit of the doubt, never join the true greats who've played the game until he was the last one standing with the trophy in June. That's not really the point, but it is a fact. "Like it or not, that's how we value our icons in this society," teammate and resident philosopher Shane Battier said. "How many Oscars have you won? How many Nobel Peace Prizes have you won? What was your salary last year as a CEO? You can be great, but it's hard -- I'm not going to say you can't -- but it's difficult to reach the pantheon without it." CBSSports.com

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Shane Battier 

Battier isn't sure if the anti-LeBron and anti-Heat sentiment will dissipate for good with one more victory. He just hopes to be around to tell the story. "Just talking to the guys from last year, the vitriol was pretty thick against this team," Battier said. "And it was softening this year. People weren't throwing rose petals at us when we came into town, but there seemed to be a better appreciation for the talents of LeBron, the talents of D-Wade and Chris Bosh and the talents of our team. If you like basketball, it's hard to root against us because we play an exciting brand of basketball." CBSSports.com

Miami Heat, Shane Battier 

Henry Abbott: On TrueHoop TV, Shane Battier says he has never been to LeBron's house, just as D. Fisher has never been to Kobe's. Twitter

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Shane Battier 

“I owe that to Hubie Brown,” said Battier. “He’s one of the greatest basketball coaches of all time. He actually coached jump ball situations when we were in Memphis. He covered every situation. I just went back to my teachings with Hubie Brown, he taught us how to steal the tap, and how to anticipate where the ball’s going to go. That’s all coach Brown.” ESPN.com

Miami Heat, Shane Battier, Hubie Brown 

Shane Battier and Juwan Howard say they have never had the Duke-Michigan conversation. Though it did come up that Battier, the erstwhile Blue Devil who grew up in a Detroit suburb, once accepted a pair of autographed sneakers from Howard when the latter was playing for the Wolverines as a member of the Fab Five. New York Times

Miami Heat, Juwan Howard, Shane Battier