Terry Foster: NBA Insider

Michael Jordan isn't Jackie Robinson of basketball

LeBron James has his heart in the right place, paying respect to the heroes of yesterday.

Last week, he said he would stop wearing his No. 23 in homage to Michael Jordan and replace it next season with No. 6. James also encouraged the NBA to retire Jordan's number throughout the league.

Noble gesture, but forgive me for not endorsing his request.

There are a number of reasons why Jordan's number should notbe retired like Major League Baseball did with Jackie Robinson's No. 42.

Jordan is not the Jackie Robinson of basketball. He did not break down barriers. He was a man who marketed himself well and won titles.

That's great for Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, the team he led to the top. But let's get this straight -- he did his job, which was made easier by many players who came before.

Frank talk

It appears Nets president Rod Thorn won't fire coach Lawrence Frank until New Jersey has a healthy roster.

On the surface, that sounds fair. Frank has been without Devin Harris, Courtney Lee, Yi Jianlian, Jarvis Hayes and Keyon Dooling.

The problem is, Frank believes in those press clippings from years ago that called him a genius coach.

It's only a matter of time before he's gone.

Wade analysis

Dwyane Wade continues to impress with his stellar play.

But Grant Long isn't impressed.

"I can't put him in my top five," Long, the former Eastern Michigan standout and current Oklahoma City color commentator, told the Miami Herald. "I want two options in a guy -- a guy who can drive or shoot when the game is on the line. Right now I don't go to Dwyane Wade. Right now he's a primary driver."

Black and white from Brown

Larry Brown has a history of getting the most out of troubled players.

Take Allen Iverson and Rasheed Wallace. Brown had both, and led both to the NBA Finals.

Enter Stephen Jackson in Charlotte, Brown's latest coaching stop.

"I can deal with (high-maintenance) kids," Brown told the Charlotte Observer. "All you have to do is be straight with them. ... (Jackson) wants to play and he is a competitor."

Fine mess

It's been a while since former Pistons great Dennis Rodman was in trouble. But you knew it wouldn't last forever.

Rodman threw a $5,100 party and skipped out on the bill while leaving the hotel after playing in a legend's game in Germany.

Authorities detained him and Rodman agreed to pay the cost of the party in addition to a $2,500 fine.

More fun while losing

Gilbert Arenas reinstated his nicknames of "Hibachi" and "Agent Zero" following the Wizards' 105-103 loss to the Pistons last week in Washington.

"Everyone wants the fun guy back," Arenas told the Washington Post. "They feel with the fun guy, everyone gets to be looser."

By the numbers

1 -- Team (New Jersey) in the NBA without a victory

9 -- Double-doubles (points and rebounds) by Toronto's Chris Bosh this season, tops in the NBA

94.1 -- Free-throw percentage for Denver rookie Ty Lawson, tops in the NBA

40 x 100

Kobe Bryant's 40 points against the Pistons on Tuesday marked the 100th time he has surpassed that number. How he ranks:

271 games -- Wilt Chamberlain, 14 seasons

173 games -- Michael Jordan, 15 seasons

100 games -- Kobe Bryant, 14 seasons

Terry's top 5

1. Phoenix (3): Big splash with victories at Boston and at Miami. Steve Nash is playing at an MVP level again.

2. Atlanta (8): Won at Boston and beat red-hot Portland for second time this season behind 35 points from Joe Johnson, 20 points and 16 rebounds from Josh Smith.

3. Boston (1): Thrown off their game by surprising home losses and less-than-stellar perimeter defense.

4. Dallas (7): Drew Gooden playing solid, but it was Dirk Nowitzki's big shots that spurred Mavericks' 3-1 trip.

5. Denver (5): Who said Ty Lawson is too small to play in the NBA? He is averaging 10.3 points and 3.1 assists coming off the bench.

Terry's bottom 5

26. Washington (23): Talent-wise, this is not a bottom five team. But injuries have played a role with this struggling franchise.

27. Memphis (27): Even Allen Iverson admitted he has been a distraction. Now that he's gone, maybe the team can focus on hoops.

28. New York (29): Things are so desperate that the Knicks might bring Iverson in for a look.

29. Minnesota (28): Formula for losing -- rookie Jonny Flynn averaging more turnovers (3.6) than assists (3.3).

30. New Jersey (30): The good news is the Nets lost a close game and Devin Harris could return this week.

(Last week's rankings in parentheses)