More than an hour has passed since Portland’s practice has ended and yet McCollum still remains in the team’s facility. It doesn’t matter that he just sat through a lengthy interview, or that a photo shoot—where his black Blazers uniform, diamond chain and Li-Ning PEs were perfectly on point—immediately followed our sit down. It doesn’t matter that he then had to shoot choreographed jumpers as a videographer documented his every move. McCollum is in no rush.

If the time commitment isn’t a problem, perhaps it’s because he’s gotten used to things slowing down a bit.

At least that’s how it appears on the court, as McCollum has made a habit of freezing time during games in order to victimize hapless defenders with a series of deft moves. The exact method to the victimization always varies, yet more times than not, the result is the same.

McCollum takes great delight in besting his opponents like this. So much so that he has created a dishonor roll of sorts, playfully entitled “Law & Order: CJ’s Victims Unit,” which is a semi-weekly social media video series of him scoring on his adversaries. Each episode is well-made and very amusing. It also serves as an ever-growing video document of how potent of an offensive player McCollum has become.

“There’s guys who can score and there’s guys who are scorers,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers says about McCollum. “He’s a scorer. He’s a born scorer. A professional scorer is what I call him.”

Last season, McCollum averaged 23 points per game while shooting 48 percent from the field, 42.1 percent from three and a League-leading 91.2 percent from the stripe. McCollum’s scoring average was 20th overall in the League—higher than players like Klay Thompson, Kyle Lowry and Carmelo Anthony.

“His shooting numbers are unreal,” McCollum’s teammate Evan Turner says. “It shows the type of work he puts in and the confidence he has.”

Now in his fifth season, expect McCollum to continue his offensive onslaught on the rest of the League, having publicly set high expectations for himself based on his game getting better every year. But it’s easy to forget that McCollum’s mercurial rise to being one of the game’s best offensive players was relatively slow to develop.

Drafted 10th overall in 2013, McCollum broke his left foot at the tail end of training camp before the start of his first season—an injury made even more devastating because he’d broken the same foot his senior year at Lehigh. And while McCollum was able to bounce back from that injury, the fact that it happened again less than a year later led to a whole bunch of uncertainty.

“It was a tough blow for me, honestly,” McCollum says. “I was picked by the rookies to win Rookie of the Year. I felt like I was going to have a good season. I just remember getting the X-ray, looking at [Portland general manager] Neil [Olshey] and crying. Because I’m like, This is it, again. This is two breaks in less than a year. What’s going to happen with my life?

“I just remember him saying, ‘Ten years from now, we won’t even remember this.’ And that’s how I carried myself. Put this in the past and [focus] on playing so well and preparing so much that as I get older, no one will really remember what happened my rookie year.”

Olshey’s seemingly simple words of inspiration resonated deeply with McCollum, in large part because he was raised to always maintain an optimistic outlook. His parents passed the ideals of positivity, hard work and belief in oneself—all qualities they exemplified themselves—to McCollum and his older brother Errick, who has made a name for himself playing overseas.

“[My parents] always taught us that no matter what happens in life, prepare,” CJ says. “Because you don’t blow an opportunity by not getting the opportunity. You blow the opportunity by not being prepared when it comes.”

Taking this message to heart, McCollum went through the rehabilitation process hyper-focused and eventually played in 38 games during his first season. He showed flashes of offensive potential as a rookie, but in his second season, he only averaged around 16 minutes a game while playing behind Wesley Matthews and later Arron Afflalo.

An injury to his index finger sidelined McCollum for close to a month in his second season. And when he returned, his minutes were inconsistent and on a few occasions, he didn’t even play.

“I [used to] show up to the arena, my girl might be here, my family is in town and I know I’m not playing,” McCollum says. “The most humbling thing you will ever experience is going to your job, knowing you’re not going to play and people are there specifically to watch you. And you know you’re good enough to play—but you’re not playing.”

The NBA’s history is littered with players in similar instances who fade out of the League’s consciousness. But McCollum remained undeterred. His work ethic and internal hunger fueled his confidence, which made him work even harder on his game and in practice. And when Matthews tore his Achilles and Afflalo injured his shoulder, the Blazers were essentially forced to give McCollum a larger role. A role that he fully embraced and one that was on full display during the Blazers’ 2015 first-round matchup against the Grizzlies.

That playoff series, which the Blazers ultimately lost in five games, turned out to be McCollum’s coming out party. He struggled at the start of the series but ended up scoring 26, 18 and 33 points respectively in the final three games. And based on that performance, McCollum solidified his role as Portland’s starting 2-guard for the foreseeable future.

Promoting McCollum to a starting spot immediately proved to be the right move for the Blazers, as he thrived in a larger role and won the 2015-16 Most Improved Player award with averages of 20.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.2 steals.

“You can always judge someone based on how they respond to turmoil,” McCollum says. “I struggled and I overcame it.”

“CJ never seemed to view himself the way the basketball market viewed him,” Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, the man CJ modeled his work ethic after, tells SLAM via email. “He always felt like he was better than what people viewed him to be. Because of that, I think he has always played with a chip on his shoulder. He’s always worked harder than everyone else to prove what he believed his value was.”

The me-against-the-world mentality that Bryant talks of is quite apparent when you watch CJ play. His swagger is almost unrivaled. And as “Law & Order: CJ’s Victims Unit” shows, McCollum will not only humiliate you—he’ll gladly demonstrate how he did it.

“I think you have to have a humble arrogance about yourself to be successful at your craft, in the sense that you believe in yourself,” McCollum says. “Like, I have the utmost confidence regardless if I miss free throws down the stretch or if I airball a three. The next shot is still going up because I’ve prepared so much. I’ve put myself in a position where in my head, if I fail, the next time I’m going to succeed.”

This is likely why he is able to play so effectively alongside Blazers PG Damian Lillard. The two forged a bond way before they were NBA teammates. During his senior year at Lehigh, McCollum reached out to Lillard—also a mid-major alum out of Weber State—looking for some advice, and Dame was the right guy to dish it out.

“Nobody just gave him anything,” McCollum says of Lillard. “He went to Weber State, where he probably took ice baths in trash cans just like me. He wasn’t in the position where schools were trying to get him, so he worked hard.”

The two frequently texted and Lillard even helped McCollum through the recovery process after he broke his foot during his senior year. Lillard had also broken his foot at Weber State.

That texting relationship has since blossomed into a professional partnership and close friendship. Despite similar games, the two play together seamlessly and complement each other on offense well.

“We genuinely want to see each other succeed, and that’s how we’re able to get along so well on the court,” McCollum says. “We want to see each other be great.”

As he frequently does, Lillard offers up similar praise for McCollum. He even reveals that he’s often in awe of CJ’s offensive arsenal.

“My whole life, I’ve always had that knack for scoring,” Lillard says. “It will look like I’m stuck and I can’t do nothing. But then I can make something happen. For me, that’s normal. Everybody else, though, will be like, Oh, how you do that? CJ gives me that feeling where I’m like, How did he get out of that?”

But while Lillard and McCollum rarely find themselves stuck on offense, the Blazers as a squad have been treading water as a low-tier playoff team for the last couple of seasons.

A second-round playoff appearance in 2016 did heighten expectations, but last season the Golden State Warriors swiftly defeated Portland in four games in the first round. And with the Warriors still being the Warriors, and other teams like the Thunder and Rockets adding superstars, they’ll have to work hard to avoid another first-round exit.

The Blazers do, however, have reason for optimism. Big man Jusuf Nurkic, acquired last season, is in the best shape of his young career and will now be with the team for a full season. Power forward Ed Davis is healthy and provides some necessary depth in the frontcourt. Turner seems far more comfortable in his second season with the team and 24-year-old Pat Connaughton has evolved into a steady rotation player. Oh—and the Blazers still have Lillard and McCollum.

CJ, for his part, doesn’t sound too concerned. A little adversity is nothing new—he’s used to a fight.

“The motivation still comes from within,” he says. “Because I always remember the struggle.”

Related
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Ananth Pandian is a contributor to SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @Ananth_Pandian.

Portraits by Atiba Jefferson

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SLAM 213 is on sale next week! Pick it up at newsstands and bookstores nationwide.

The post The Beautiful Struggle appeared first on SLAM.

Wanting to address this issue, Herbert Smith of Pensole Footwear Design Academy assembled a team of like-minded individuals in the industry to create the inaugural Sneaker Week Portland.

“A lot of people come to Portland because they are affiliated with the sneaker business but they don’t have any other reason to come besides for meetings,” Smith told SLAM. “So how can we create something that is for the culture and is based around everything we love about sneakers but it’s not limited to just the business side of things?”

Sneaker Week PDX was the answer to this question for Smith, which turned out to be a seven day affair of sneaker-themed events that featured appearances from cultural legends like Bobbitto Garcia and DJ Clark Kent.

The main event for the week was Sole Sessions, a five-day intensive crash course in sneaker design at Pensole. Sole Sessions tackled all aspects of sneaker creation including marketing, branding and design. Guest speakers that included a Nike product manager were also brought in to break down their jobs, provide networking tips and be a go-to resource for sneaker design. Participants ranged from people trying to break into the sneaker industry to those who already work in it but want to take their career to another level.

Besides Sole Sessions, the Aesthete Society organized a sneaker-themed art show that featured work from local heavyweights like Chelsey Boehnke. The show was also where the Nike Air More Uptempo couch was unveiled, which immediately morphed into a viral sensation on social media.

There was also the showing of Bobbito’s “Doin’ It In The Park” documentary, which he was in attendance for. After the screening, Garcia spent a considerable amount of time answering questions in an engaging Q&A where he touched on a number of subjects associated with sneaker culture.

Also of note was DJ Clark Kent dropping his gems of wisdom at a live recording of the Kicks N’ Knowledge podcast, Deadstock Coffee uniting sneaker and barista culture with a deconstruction discussion, George Kiel’s Kick & Roll Open Run and TRILLBLAZIN’s fourth annual ICYMI trade show.

For Sneaker Week PDX’s Media and Content Director Terrence Watson, the week-long event encompassed everything about sneaker culture that makes it unique.

“Think about it? Bobbito and DJ Clark Kent come through to drop gems and bless our first-ever event,” Watson told SLAM. “Then you had an art show inspired by sneaker culture itself that has been talked about non-stop. Plus you had sneakerhead baristas unite the worlds of coffee and kicks through a program that deconstructed both products — that’s pretty groundbreaking.”

While Watson may sound like he’s just overly hyping the event, even vendors share the same sentiment.

“Sneaker Week covered all corners of the industry,” TRILLBLAZIN’s Keith Kunis told SLAM. “As a host, it feels dope TRILLBLAZIN could bring their vision to the week and offer a different look at the culture.”

How Sneaker Week PDX will look next year is still yet to be determined. But with the success of this year’s iteration of the event, Sneaker Week PDX definitely showed that Portland could host a week-long schedule of sneaker-themed cultural events and that the best perhaps, is yet to come.

“Putting on a week-long event in any city is difficult, but putting on something like this in Portland is a bit of a statement, right?” Watson told SLAM. “We wanted to show that with cool activations and events driven by the culture and for the sneaker community as a whole, it could be done.”

The post Sneaker Week Portland Recap appeared first on SLAM.

“I read SLAM on the regular when I was growing up,” says comedian Monroe Martin with a smile.

At the first glance of the 6-5 Martin, built like a power forward, you can’t help be a little intimidated, but his omnipresent smile and his gregarious laugh will put you at ease. He can smile and laugh now, but growing up in Philadelphia for Martin involved 14 different foster homes over the course of 15 years. In fact, his expert storytelling and ability to poke fun of how he grew up got him on the most recent season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing and as a New Face at the prestigious Just For Laughs festival in Montreal this past summer. Monroe is now a regular cast member on MTV2’s Guy Code and can be found headlining clubs across the country.

Before he headlined a show in Boston, the rising Martin, who now resides in New York City, took some time to talk to SLAM about his love for Jordans and how he used to party with former NBA player and current Temple assistant coach, Aaron McKie.

SLAM: At Just for Laughs in Montreal over the summer you were rocking the high-top Kobe 9s—a sneaker that’s hard to pull off but you did.

Monroe Martin: They are hard to pull off but the key is just keeping everything simple. It is all in how you lace them up, and the way the jeans sit on them. You have to keep it simple, don’t try to draw too much attention to ‘em. They speak for themselves, there is no need to do anything crazy with the rest of your outfit. Sometimes they look like wrestling boots, but they look like that if you don’t how to pull ‘em off. I bought the Kobe’s to kind of pat myself on the back for getting to Montreal. That was my third time auditioning and I finally got in. I got them to celebrate. My friend Nore Davis and I went sneaker shopping at this store called Exclucity. I knew exactly how I was going to wear them when I saw them on the wall.

SLAM: Is that your go to spot for kicks, Exclucity?

MM: Nah, it’s in Montreal. I bought them in Montreal for Just For Laughs. It was a benchmark for me, something that I worked hard for. Kobe is a great basketball player and a hard worker so they signify the hard work I put in to get to Montreal. I wanted to feel like I made it to the All-Star game.

SLAM: When you are on the road, do you always seek out sneaker spots?

MM: Yeah, when I go on the road I look for the hood sneaker spots. I buy a pair of sneakers that I was looking for and then will wear them when I perform in that city. Like when I was performing in Seattle, I bought the Sport Blue 14s. Then another time on the road I picked up a pair of Sport Blue 3s. I got the 1s another time.

SLAM: Oh, so you are a big Jordan head then?

MM: Yeah man, I got like 14 pairs. All of my friends keep asking why I’m buying so many sneakers but I pay them no mind. I look at each pair of sneakers as a reward, you know like I’m treating myself. I mean, this is the first time I’ve been headlining clubs.

SLAM: Right, that is because of Last Comic Standing right? How was that experience?

MM: I finished seventh but overall it was a great experience. I didn’t actually believe I was on the show because I thought I was going to get kicked off mad early. But the further and further I got, I was like Oh, okay this is happening. And then I got kicked off. [Laughs] But it was great. I learned a lot from the judges and the other comics. From that show, I’ve been able to travel and perform in places that I always wanted to.

SLAM: You grew up in Philadelphia—are you a Sixers fan?

MM: Of course, I love ‘em. I remember watching the 2001 NBA Finals outside on my boy’s porch on this lil’ ass TV, just going crazy for Allen Iverson and the rest of the team. Once that team broke up, I stopped paying attention to them for a bit but I still support my hometown team. One of my friends is related to Aaron Mckie so I used to see him at these house parties she would throw.

SLAM: Really? I can’t imagine Aaron McKie being a house party type of guy.

MM: He’s not, but she was his niece, so she would ask him to come through and he would. It wasn’t a house party like with kids drinking; it was more like a big barbeque with a lot of people and music. Everyone would only come to the party just to see him. We would be chilling, kinda pretending he’s not there and give him dap like he was a regular dude. But we knew. [Laughs]

SLAM: Besides McKie, there are a good number of great players that have come out of Philly. Kyle Lowry, Rasheed…

MM: Rasheed was my dude, man. He went to Gratz and I just wanted him to be great. Anybody that is from Philly and is able to make it to a bigger stage, the entire city wants them to be great. So we are always pulling for Sheed. I remember I used to have the Rasheed Wallace Air Force 1s. You remember those joints? With the strap? Those were dope shoes man. I used to wear them to high school and walk like a duck so they wouldn’t get wrinkled. [Laughs]

Follow Monroe Martin on Twitter and check out his website to see when he will be performing near you.

Ananth Pandian is a writer based in Boston. He’s on Twitter @Ananth_Pandian.

The post Q+A: Monroe Martin appeared first on SLAM.

Your next step is to find out more about Big Red soda, which is a popular soda in Texas that has a unique taste that many say is similar to bubble gum.

Afterwards, you just take a second to marvel at the photo of a smiling Bonner posing with a bottle of Big Red.

Knowing that this image will be “found on Big Red soda displays at hundreds of stores across Central and South Texas” makes this news infinitely better. Just imagine strolling through your grocery store and seeing a giant display of Matt Bonner. Matt Bonner brings a smile to your face, admit it.

The 6-10 red-headed sharpshooter from New Hampshire has become a fan favorite for the myriad of quirks that set him apart from other NBA players. From being a serious sandwich connoisseur to having Kobe Bryant bestow him with the nickname Red Mamba, Bonner is a legend in NBA circles for his uniqueness. Becoming the brand ambassador for Big Red is just the latest chapter in the unique tale that is Matt Bonner.

To get some more insight on his role with Big Red, SLAM caught up with Bonner for some quick questions. Check it out:

SLAM: Big Red says that you are a “deliciously different” addition to their team. How are you “deliciously different”? Is that an apt description for you?

Matt Bonner: Aside from the time I fell into a barrel of maple syrup when I was eight, I can’t vouch for the delicious part. As for being different, I don’t know? I just try to be myself.

SLAM: Wait, you once fell into a barrel of maple syrup?

MB: [Laughs] That never happened. I was just joking!

SLAM: Big Red says they are America’s best-selling “red soda,” are there any other bestselling red products you can see yourself endorsing?

MB: Manu always gives me grief for putting a ton of ketchup on everything. So maybe that? Or maybe I could endorse stop signs. I’m a big fan of traffic laws. They are important. Other possibilities: Redbox, Red Robin, Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Reddit, Red Lobster, Red Rider BB Gun, Red Cross, and Clifford the Big Red Dog.

SLAM: Since you are the Sandwich Hunter, what is the ideal sandwich to eat and then wash down with a glass of Big Red?

MB: Any sandwich goes well with a Big Red. But if I had to pick one, I’d say a pickled cow tongue sandwich. The sweetness of the Big Red compliments the overall bitterness of the cow tongue quite nicely.

SLAM: You are now affectionately known as the Red Mamba and the Red Rocket, but growing up did people ever call you Big Red? Or was there another affectionate nickname?

MB: Actually, I was indeed often called Big Red. I grew up in Concord, New Hampshire where everyone is a Celtics fan. Since Dave Cowens’s nickname was “Big Red” and I was a tall kid with red hair, it was only natural that I inherited the moniker.

SLAM: On a more serious note, with the whole push across the country to cut down on sugary drinks, like with Michelle Obama’s Drink Up campaign—why did you partner with Big Red? People may say that you should be promoting healthy choices, so are you afraid of any backlash?

MB: I’m not trying to perpetuate a Coo-Coo Cola situation; yes, I just referenced Chip n Dale’s Rescue Rangers. As a parent and role model, teaching kids to make healthy choices is important to me. That being said, I think it’s perfectly okay to have a soft drink on occasion. For example, I love getting popcorn and a soda when I go to the movies. Why not make that soda a Big Red?

Ananth Pandian is a writer based in Boston. He’s on Twitter @Ananth_Pandian.

The post Matt Bonner Talks Big Red appeared first on SLAM.

The infamous curse that rapper Lil B’s alter ego, the Based God, has put on Durant is often brought up in jest, but becomes a topic of discussion whenever something ill happens to the MVP forward. When you meet Lil B, you have a hard time understanding how someone so positive could put a curse on someone as unassuming as Durant. But then again, the Based God works in mysterious ways.

With Lil B delivering an inspirational and thoughtful lecture at MIT last week (watch the full video here), SLAM caught up with the rapper the next morning for a drive through the streets of Boston—to get an update on the Based God’s curse on Durant, how he improved his own basketball game and all things #based.

SLAM: After your lecture at MIT, you opened it up to audience questions. Some of the first questions were about Kevin Durant and the Based God’s curse. Did that bother you in any way?

Lil B: Yeah man, it is just crazy how many people are interested in the Kevin Durant curse. People call it a quote-unquote “feud.” It is definitely an eye-opener as it has become a worldwide thing. We were just in Canada and people were going crazy about it. Kevin has a lot of fans and you know I got a lot of supporters so people are interested in our dynamic. A lot of people are waiting for us to play that game, you know? They want us to play. Kevin agreed to it and then pulled back last season. His people hit me up and told me to let him be because he needs to stay focused on the season. I am ready, though. I am ready right now. I’ve been practicing more on my game and I feel more comfortable with my skills defensively.

SLAM: How have you been practicing? Just by playing pickup or do you have a trainer?

Lil B: I’ve got my guy and my dudes that I work with. I got some people that did basketball stuff in college, like my dude—shout out to Trevon, his dad is a sports agent in the NBA and reps a couple stars, so I’m cool with him as well. I work with Trevon sometimes individually and also just getting a chance to watch him play and learn from watching. I also play a lot with my friends and learn from them. Like my friend Lamar, he played high level high school ball but is just very talented. He has such a fundamentally sound game and I’ve been learning some things from him, like how to use the backboard to make easy shots.

SLAM: Why did you originally put a curse on Kevin Durant?

Lil B: Like I said in my lecture last night, I as Lil B am totally cool with Durant. I’ve been forgave him. I love Durant and I love the NBA. The Based God is different, that is its own thing. As we can see with the injury and what is going on with the team…yo, shouts to Westbrook. I got no problem with Russell Westbrook. I’m a big fan of Westbook. You just got to be around that positive energy and Kevin Durant has to make sure he is around that positive energy. You know?

SLAM: Back in September, he said you guys were cool. Then he got injured and you sent out that tweet. So where is the curse at now?

I THOUGHT THE CURSE WAS OVER BASEDGOD! PLEASE I NEED TO TALK TO " THE BASEDGOD " I THOUGHT THE CURSE WAS OVER ! (SCREAMING) – Lil B

— Lil B THE BASEDGOD (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) October 12, 2014

Lil B: Oh, it is back. The curse is there, man. Like I said, I’ve been forgave Durant as Lil B but I can’t speak for the Based God. But you know we may get to the Based God soon. [Leans in to the recorder] Get that exclusive for SLAM.

SLAM: Over the summer, Triangle Offense spoke with Jeremy Lamb of the Thunder.

Lil B: [Laughs]

SLAM: Did you see the clip?

Lil B: [Laughs] Yes, I did. Salute to Jeremy Lamb.

SLAM: He said the Thunder rag on KD from time to time about the Based God’s curse.

Lil B: Yeah man, salute to Jeremy Lamb. Salute to the whole Thunder team. I definitely appreciate their staff and all of their coaches. Altogether that is just a great team. Oh man, Jeremy Lamb. It is funny. Like I said, the Based God is there and the Based God is real prevalent in locker rooms and throughout the NBA.

SLAM: Besides Durant, what have you been paying attention to at the start of this NBA season?

Lil B: I’ve keeping an eye on Russ Smith of the Pelicans. Salute to my brother Russ. I am a big supporter of him. I just know he has a lot of potential. I am excited to see him get some minutes and prove to others that he can be an established player in the League.

SHOUTS OUT TO RUSS SMITH!!!! THANK YOU FOR HOLDING DOWN LIL B MUSIC IN THE FINAL 4 !!! – Lil B

— Lil B THE BASEDGOD (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) April 1, 2013

SLAM: Ty Lawson said in a Reddit AMA that he listens to you because he doesn’t want to get cursed.

https://twitter.com/jpgilbert/status/527158095123087361

Lil B: Yeah man! Tell Ty Lawson that I’m a big fan of his work ethic. One of my best friends says I play like him. Love that he gave me a shout out.

SLAM: Have you been to any games yet this season?

Lil B: I went to a college game already, a Cal game. Got to support them. I’m planning on hitting up some NBA games soon. Got to support the Warriors. The Warriors world and community reaches out a lot to me so I got major respect for the Warriors. Yo, respect to Matt Bonner. Respect to the Spurs, they show a lot of love. The Memphis Grizzlies as well. Salute to the Grizzlies. I actually work out in the same gym as the Grizzlies owner, Robert Pera.

SLAM: So you planning on going to see those teams play and show your support?

LB: Yeah man. You know we are talking, man. I may be signing a 10-day contract real soon with a special NBA team. Stuff is heating up, man. Stuff is heating up.

SLAM: What are you thoughts on other rappers trying to play ball professionally, like Master P, who made it to the League for a minute?

Lil B: Salute to Master P for making it in the League and actually playing. Salute to The Game for being heavy in the Drew League. Baron Davis reached out a long time ago because he wanted me to play in the Drew. It didn’t work out but it will soon. I really want to play against The Game. I really want to play against Chris Brown. My improved defense is what will help me out in these games, as well as my ability to drive to the hole. I’ve also really focused on passing the ball more. I used to be real selfish and try to be this victory player but I realized from watching the NBA, that passing just does so much.

SLAM: Like how the Spurs ran things against the Heat.

Lil B: Yes, sir. That changed my game and opened my eyes. Just by passing, you yourself will eventually get open. Because of that, I am also really working on my shot. I got no problem driving but am trying to make my mid-range game a little more consistent.

SLAM: What about your defense? Why did you recently focus on defense?

Lil B: I just realized with that with defense, you can create offense. You know, just by making turnovers. I really stick with you when I am guarding you, I try and get in people’s heads. I’m a trash talker when I’m on the court. I’m definitely going to say a couple of things and just stick to you. I stay low to the ground and lately I really think that is what I have to offer to a team because my defense creates offense.

SLAM: When you’re playing, does the Based God ever come out?

Lil B: Not the Based God. That is a very rare, rare occurrence. To meet the Based God is very rare. When I do play, I’m really just going for respect. I’ve been practicing for big games in front of people.

SLAM: What do you mean? What is a big game in front of people?

Lil B: Like the Kevin Durant game, if that happens. I also got a couple of things I am thinking of starting up soon. Like creating a league around my way called Hoop Life TV. You know, the people that support me, really want to see me play. So these games can be watched online and people can bet on the games. Bet on the player individually. They can bet to see who they believe in and who will win.

SLAM: Since you brought up Durant again, do you ever feel like you just want the whole thing to go away?

Lil B: I was wanting it to go away but people really want it. Kevin wants it. I know Kevin wants to play that game.

SLAM: Why? To shut you up?

Lil B: Maybe, but I just know that Kevin wants to play that game, man. But I got some stuff coming up man. I was talking to NBA 2K and NBA Live, trying to figure out some stuff with them. Tell Ronnie 2K to quit fronting on me. He got like 10 million, why he fronting on me?

SLAM: We’ll let him know. Who is your team when you play 2K?

Lil B: I love playing as the Magic. Love playing as Tobias Harris. I’m always definitely rocking with them.

SLAM: Interesting choice. You tried out for the Warriors’ D-League team a couple years ago. Now that you have improved your game, are you going to try out again?

Lil B: I tried out for the D-League when I was really fresh in the game. I still got a lot of support in that organization so I definitely want to try out again. I just love playing competitive ball, man. But like I said, I’m working on some things and I will let you guys know real soon when it all comes together.

Ananth Pandian is a writer based in Boston. He’s on Twitter @Ananth_Pandian.

The post Q+A: Lil B appeared first on SLAM.

His latest comedy special Wyatt Cenac: Brooklyn, was filmed in front of an intimate audience at Brooklyn’s Union Hall, and with the special garnering rave reviews on Netflix, Cenac set out on a supporting tour. Recently he took a break to chat with SLAM about the Knicks, Nets, LeBron, Vince Carter and more.

SLAM: The special has been out on Netflix for about a month now, how has the experience been?

Wyatt Cenac: It has been a cool experience and I’ve gotten a good response so far. There is a fear associated with putting something out to that large of a mass audience though. I filmed it in front of an awesome audience, the reactions were more immediate there. They knew they were there for a special so they didn’t want to let me down. While you know with Netflix, there is some anonymity with the viewers so they could be extra critical. It makes it more nerve-racking but thankfully it has worked out well.

SLAM: You’re on a tour promoting the special now, what’s the reception been like on the road?

WC: Great. I’m doing all new material, different from the special. I shot the special in January, so I have been able to work on some of the material that didn’t get in. This way I can promote the special and not do the same material in it. Gets people more excited to watch it. Performing and working out new material allows me to be more open to new ideas. The challenge now with these new ideas is figuring out how to put everything together.

SLAM: You live in Brooklyn and you reference the gentrification of Brooklyn by pointing to the Barclays Center in your special. Have you been to a game there?

WC: I’ve been a few times. I was actually there recently for the Nets-Magic game, which was an excitingly mediocre game between two teams that are racing for the middle of the pack. When I left The Daily Show, I got box seats as a going away gift which was really nice. It is pretty swanky up there. Barclays is nice, though. It’s quite convenient, with all of the subways right there. I usually walk to games. If you’re driving it’s probably a different story but it is pretty great. I wish they build it out on Coney Island though.

SLAM: Oh really? Why Coney Island?

WC: It would’ve been great on so many levels. That is a depressed area so the arena would’ve brought business and revitalization to that neighborhood. Also, just imagine that aerial shot during those national ESPN or TNT games. You would see the ferris wheel and the boardwalk. Would’ve been really dope to see.

SLAM: You grew up near Dallas but since you’ve lived in New York for quite some time, have you adopted the Knicks or the Nets as your team?

WC: Although I grew up in Dallas, I’ve never really been a fan of the Mavericks. I was happy when they won a couple years ago but growing up during Jordan’s dominance, I had to be a fan of the Bulls. I am also a Knicks fans which I can probably say started in those Playoff battles with the Bulls. That was such a great rivalry with Starks and Ewing taking on Jordan and Pippen. I still like the Knicks, but I’m not a fan of Melo.

SLAM: Why don’t you like Melo?

WC: He just doesn’t make the team better. He is a great scorer but sometimes I feel like he is just a black hole. The Knicks haven’t had any real Playoff success with him. I also feel like the Knicks had something going on with that Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari team. New York has a blue collar, workman like feel to it and that team felt like that. I thought that when they first signed Amar’e, the Knicks were going to back to that traditional big man dominant team. Back to the era of Willis Reed and Ewing, you know? Now with Melo that has changed. I was hoping that with all of the drama surrounding the Pacers this off season that Roy Hibbert would be in play and the Knicks could somehow have gotten him. That would be great, build around Hibbert. Just like Ewing you know, he played at Georgetown. Would be a solid center for the triangle.

SLAM: Speaking of Knicks’ centers, I heard that you were sitting courtside at the Knicks game where Tyson Chandler broke his leg. Like he broke his leg right in front of you.

WC: It was pretty intense to see for a Knicks-Bobcats game. I somehow got courtside seats, I think I did something for the MSG Network. Tim Robinson from SNL came with me and we were right there when Tyson went down. He is writhing in pain but we don’t really know what’s going on. We were kind of scared, it is freaky to see someone in pain right in front of you. The crazy thing is that the guy sitting next to us, took out his cell phone and started filming the whole thing. Then the next day on the back of the newspaper, there is a picture of Tyson on the ground and you can see us in the back of the picture. You could even see the guy with his cellphone out. I was so thankful to not be that guy. The picture showed that I had a genuine human reaction while that guy just wanted to make a viral video.

SLAM: You attended UNC when they had some great teams. Do you have any crazy player stories from your time there?

WC: I was there for two years of Rasheed Wallace and Jerry Stackhouse. Was also there for two years of Vince Carter and Antwan Jamison. I was in a couple of classes with Vince and Antwan, which now we all know were the easy classes. I actually showed up less than they did and the amazing this is that we all passed! I remember once, the brother of Ademola Okulaja (UNC ’95-99) lived in my dorm, so he said I could go with him to the Smith Center to shoot around. I was so excited because I thought I would get to play with Vince, Antwan and the rest of the team. But when we got there, they were like, Okay, you guys go shoot on that hoop over there while we play over here. So we just shot around and watched. I am pretty sure that they were playing 4-on-4 so we could have played fives with them. They just didn’t want to play with scrubs, I guess.

SLAM: What is one story this season that has you really intrigued?

WC: The LeBron-to-Cleveland storyline is very interesting. When that happened, I tweeted something out about how if he even wins one title in Cleveland, he is going to get a statue. But even if he won a whole bunch in Miami, there was no way that was going to happen.

https://twitter.com/wyattcenac/status/487734059582246912

Even if LeBron doesn’t win a championship, I feel like the Cavs will build a statue of him. The storyline is just too strong for that not to happen. Remember when Kareem was displeased about how he couldn’t get a statue? Kareem won all of those rings but wanted a statute. That is why I feel like the statue is the new championship ring, you know? Like that is the mark of a true champion. You can lose your ring in the sink but a statue that is here to stay. It is bigger in size and in actual importance than a championship ring.

Ananth Pandian is a writer based in Boston. He’s on Twitter @Ananth_Pandian.

The post Q+A: Wyatt Cenac appeared first on SLAM.

Funches openly professes his love for wrestling in his act but he is also a passionate basketball fan. From growing up in Chicago to honing his comedic craft in Portland and now residing in Los Angeles, Funches has had the good fortune to have always lived in basketball fanatic cities. While performing at the Boston Comedy Festival, Funches took the time to talk with SLAM about hoops, comedy and his all-time favorite pair of sneakers.

SLAM: How did you become a fan of the NBA?

Ron Funches: I grew up in Chicago during the heyday of the Bulls. So I was all about Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Bill Carthwright, John Paxson—my mom would always be like, “That’s my white boy.” Then her white boy became Steve Kerr. [Laughs]

I remember seeing House Party Two in the theaters, and the staff stopped the move and announced “The Bulls just won the finals again y’all!” I am a Bulls fan still to this day but growing up I also played a lot of NBA Jam, which made me like basketball a lot.

SLAM: Who was your team in NBA Jam? The Bulls?

RF: Yup, Chicago all day. Seattle was an amazing team as well. That duo of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp was a lot of fun to play with.

SLAM: When you moved to Portland, did you automatically start rooting for the Blazers as well?

RF: No, not really. I mean I always had a hatred for Clyde Drexler.

SLAM: Why? Because of those early Finals with the Bulls and the Blazers?

RF: Maybe, but I remember seeing those stupid Drexler posters that said, “To air is human but to glyde is divine.” Also, I think he just looks like a high school janitor. Can’t you picture Drexler sweeping your high school hallway? I can’t respect that.

SLAM: So no love for the Blazers even though you lived there for a while?

RF: Portland is my second home, so the Blazers are my second favorite team. I like this Blazers team a lot with Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge. I loved that Jail Blazers team—they were my favorite Blazers of all time. The whole country was always up in arms, calling them out because they got caught with weed but if you live in Oregon, you know how good the weed is there. If you live in Portland, basically anyone can get caught with weed. It is going to happen.

SLAM: So kind of along that Jail Blazers line, what is something that a player has done that made you like them, made you become a fan of them?

RF: I really like Steve Nash. Not really for any real reason, it is just because I met Steve Nash. [Laughs]

SLAM: Where did you meet him?

RF: I met him at the Laugh Factory.

SLAM: Oh, he came to one of your shows?

RF: Yeah, he came out. He is friends with a guy who is married to one of the actresses on Undateable so they are always saying that he was going to come to a taping. That’s never happened, which is understandable because it is during the season. But this past offseason he came to one of my shows. I heard he is nice, but I didn’t really expect him to like my comedy because I kind of do weird stuff. After I was done with my set, he came right up to me and was like, “Oh man, you are so funny, you are so smart.” I loved it, he was acting like a big kid. So now, I’m like, Steve Nash is a cool dude. When I heard about how he hurt his back and now may be done playing, I was pretty bummed. But hey, get your money Steve Nash.

SLAM: As a comedian, what are your thoughts about Blake Griffin’s comedic talents?

RF: I think it is great. I’ve seen him come around to shows at the Laugh Factory and the Comedy Store. I like anybody who appreciates and supports other art forms. That is one reason why I like basketball. I can’t dunk on anybody, that is superhuman to me, so I have a real respect for it. I like it when players come to shows and show respect. You know, they don’t act like they can easily do what we are doing.

SLAM: You don’t get that from Blake?

RF: No, not at all. From to the shows he goes to, you can tell he just really likes comedy. He truly likes comedy, and I got a lot of respect for that.

SLAM: That’s cool to hear. Let’s talk a bit about Undateable. I heard that your fellow cast member, Rick Glassman, actually played against LeBron James in high school. Does he bring that up a lot?

RF: He brings it up all time. I mean all the time. My favorite story of his, he will probably want to tell you himself, but I’m still going to tell you. [Laughs] Once Rick went to a Cavs game and waited in line to get an autograph from LeBron. It is like him, bunch of lil’ kids and screaming girls. LeBron stops by and Rick goes, “Hey, I used to play against you in high school.” LeBron responded by saying, “Good for you.” [Laughs] That kind of sounds like a jerk thing to say, but I probably would have said the same thing.

SLAM: Amazing. So do you guys talk a lot of ball on set?

RF: Yeah, we talk a lot of ball. We actually get Clippers tickets from time to time so we always fight to see who gets them. A lot of them play. too—they are champs of their league, whatever that means. I don’t play in it.

SLAM: Do you play at all?

RF: Nah, I try a little here and there. But if you want to play full court, no thank you.

SLAM: Not sure if you heard about this, but the majority owner of the Sacramento Kings pitched a radical idea to his team, play four on five, so one player is always cherry picking. Let’s say that you are on a team that is using this strategy. Who are the four other NBA players you would want to be on your team? All you have to do is catch the ball and make a layup.

RF: OK, first of all we are still going to lose.The other players are going to be quick enough to come back and block me because even though I got a head start, I will be on my third time attempting a layup. But on my team, I will have Derrick Rose. He seems real cool. I that Kanye song, where he goes, “Shout out to Derrick Rose, man that nigga nice.” It always makes me think that Kanye is saying that Rose is just an extremely nice guy. Kanye is all like, “He met my wife and is real kind to her.” [Laughs] Besides Rose, I would have Kevin Love—I used to see him play in high school at Lake Oswego. Then Blake Griffin, who is real cool, and Steve Nash. I know Nash is probably done playing and we already have a point guard but he would probably do something cool on the court like kick a pass to me.

SLAM: Solid team. I know you also a big sneakerhead. What is your favorite shoe that you own?

RF: I’ve never been caught up in Jordans. I couldn’t afford them as a kid and now as an adult, I can get them but they just look weird on my feet. My all-time favorite shoes are a pair of Kevin Johnsons I had as a kid.

SLAM: Yeah? Those Cons with the React juice in them?

RF: Yeah, I loved those shoes. I liked how the shoe looked, and I loved his commercial. I wanted the Larry Johnson Grandmamas but they were too expensive.

Follow Ron Funches on Twitter, watch NBC’s Undateable, and check out his website to see when he will be performing near you.

Ananth Pandian is a writer based in Boston. He’s on Twitter @Ananth_Pandian.

The post Q+A: Ron Funches appeared first on SLAM.

After tearing the meniscus in his right knee as a sophomore at Long Beach State, Free has successfully been able to take the jokes that he was amusing his teammates with while being injured on the bench to the stage as a standup comedian and eventually to The Daily Show. While in Boston for The Daily Show Writers Standup Tour, Free took some time before his set to chat with SLAM about playing with Tyson Chandler at Dominguez, the NBA and how he was able to make the jump from the court to The Daily Show.

SLAM: Your story is quite interesting as it is not the typical basketball player from Compton story. Can you speak about the journey you have taken from basketball to The Daily Show?

Travon Free: It is very unconventional, but also I feel like I got really lucky. I started doing comedy in college, right after hurting my knee. I always loved and watched comedy, so perhaps all those years watching, I was absorbing how to do it. Once I had the time to focus on it and discovered that I was actually good at it, I didn’t feel so bad about my basketball career being over. I was like here is something that I can pursue that I enjoy as much, if not more, than playing basketball.

I feel lucky that I found something else. A lot of people when they get hurt playing sports, that is all they have or all they knew, and they have to find something new and who knows how long that could take. I was lucky enough to find it when I was still in college.

SLAM: How exactly did you get into comedy while at college? I read that you took an actual comedy class at college, but what made you challenge yourself in that way?

TF: I was a more studious basketball player. My academic advisor mentioned to me that there was a professor who had a stand up class. So I talked with him and we just hit it off. After he read some of my stuff, he was like there is no doubt in my mind that once you leave college this is what you will be doing. And he ended up being right!

SLAM: Growing up, how did you get into playing basketball?

TF: It was just one of those things, where people were like, “Oh you are 10 years old and taller than almost everyone your age or four years older. Maybe you should try playing basketball.” [Laughs] I started playing on a 13-and-older team when I was 11. I was good at it, so I definitely was thinking about maybe playing professionally. I was playing on great teams with great players, many who ended up playing pro in some capacity. It was great—I kept developing and going from team to team, ended up at Dominguez. Played varsity my freshman year, and we ended up winning the state championship.

SLAM: That was the team with Tyson Chandler, right? Did you know when you were playing with him that he was going to develop into a great NBA player? He was super skinny at the time.

TF: He was super skinny, but he was really good. You knew he was going to go far with basketball. He was one of the best, if not the best, high school players at the time. I mean we played a lot of the top teams from across the country that year, and we beat all of them mainly because of Tyson.

SLAM: Have you been following his career or even stayed in touch? I know you were a freshman when he was senior.

TF: I haven’t talked to him in years. Even with those two years he was with the Knicks and I was in New York at the same time. We just never could figure it out. Then he got traded to Dallas, so now it is probably even more difficult.

SLAM: I heard that when you were injured in college, you kept telling jokes to your teammates and even the coaches.

TF: I was always around the guys even when I was hurt. I couldn’t do anything, so all I would do is listen to comedy albums and then try and be funny at practice. I kind of became that guy.

SLAM: That’s great. Let’s talk about your injury for a bit. Tearing your meniscus is no joke, what went through your mind during that time?

TF: You go through that identity crisis, man. This is what I’ve been doing for the last 15 years, what am I going to do next? What career path am I going to follow, if not this? With all of the time and effort I put into the game, it made you think. I remained confident though. I knew that I would find something I would enjoy to do. Luckily I found comedy.

SLAM: How was the rehab process? You injured your knee your sophomore year but returned to play one more season.

TF: Rehab was brutal, man. It was hard. I had an extra year of eligibility so I knew that I was going to play that one more year. They told me not to play anymore because after they cleared everything out, they saw that the damage was pretty severe. But I didn’t want to go out after two years of playing.

SLAM: Right, that is the stubborn athlete syndrome.

TF: Right, but we went to the tournament that year so I feel like I went out on a high note.

SLAM: No better way to go out. I know The Daily Show has you working out a lot but do you find time to watch NBA games?

TF: I tend to start seriously watching right after the All-Star break, but so far I’m enjoying watching the Cavaliers and how they are trying to find their bearings. That game against the Bulls was a lot of fun. It will be interesting to see how they progress as a team.

SLAM: So growing up in Compton, I’m guessing either the Lakers or the Clippers are one of your teams, right?

TF: Lakers, unfortunately. Lakers man. [Shakes his head.]

SLAM: [Laughs] What is your hope with the Lakers? Is there even hope?

TF: Signing Kobe to that deal was probably not the best idea but if someone offered me 48 million dollars, I wouldn’t be turning them down. You can’t give an aging player all your money if you want to rebuild. We can’t reward Kobe for what he did for the franchise in the past. They will figure it out though. It is the Lakers.

SLAM: I’ve noticed that you often tweet about Derrick Rose. Is he your favorite player?

TF: I love Derrick. The year he played at Memphis, I watched Memphis basketball for him. He was just amazing to watch. I just find it hilarious that he continues to get hurt every time he comes back from an injury. Another one, the other night. It keeps happening. I want him to do well. He is just so fun to watch. It is kind of like Allen Iverson. He has to learn how to play under control otherwise he will be bumped and bruised out of the NBA by the time he is 30.

SLAM: Let’s talk about The Daily Show. Most people probably don’t know how the writing room there actually works. How does a show get made?

TF: Our writing room is not a typical sitcom type of room. We already know what stories we are going to be looking at that day, from the previous day. Then we look at them with Jon [Stewart], and he decides what he wants to talk about. Then the stories get assigned to different writers, and we go off and do it. We rehearse with that script. Then that script gets rewritten one more time. We rehearse with that script a couple hours before taping then we go and rewrite that script into the final show script.

SLAM: Lot of work. I know Jon is a big basketball fan but is that carried throughout the office?  

TF: Oh yeah, we talk sports. More so on an individual basis, but we do regular office sports stuff. We do an office pool for the NCAA tournament. We did one for the World Cup. We got our Fantasy Football league.

SLAM: On the episode of The Champs that you were on, you talked about how black youth aim to be in front of the camera more so than trying to help create behind the scenes.

TF: Right, I think it is because we came from black people being only allowed to be the shucking and jiving entertainers in front of the camera. We were never really in charge of creating the material. I think because a lot of black kids growing up have seen that evolution of character in black people throughout entertainment history, they desire to be the one in front of the camera. To be the one everyone wants to see. It is the same with wanting to be a rapper or an athlete. You want to be seen, you want to be heard. No one really tells you that you can do that by creating the material or by creating the vehicle for someone else.

SLAM: You were an athlete on the main stage—did you have to take a step back in your mind to become a writer?

TF: I still do stand up and have a web series with my friends in LA, so I still get my fair share of making my presence known. But I mean, I am writing on one of the best shows of all time. That credit alone, will get me into any door that I need to.

Ananth Pandian is a writer based in Boston. He’s on Twitter @Ananth_Pandian.

The post Q+A: Travon Free appeared first on SLAM.

Back in September during the city’s popular Cooper-Young Festival, the Grizzlies collaborated on a basketball art show with the basketball art blog, Double Scribble, entitled “No Easy Buckets.” The show, which was hung up outside on the walls of the Memphis Made Brewery, featured work from 15 different artists and even had a mini-court set up for festival goers.

Funds raised from the art sold at “No Easy Buckets” went towards the Memphis Grizzlies Community Court program to help renovate courts at Howze Park in the Binghamton neighborhood of Memphis.

This neighborhood and park is significant because Memphis natives and former NBA greats Penny Hardaway and Elliot Perry played at Howze growing up. Penny, who is devoted to helping improve Memphis, continues to coach in the neighborhood.

With the help of Grizzlies players and Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, Howze was renovated this past Monday, into a vision of an ideal combination of art and basketball. Grizzlies Sports Development Coordinator Daniel Peterson provided more background on the renovations: “For us, basketball court renovations are more than just a place to shoot a few hoops, but they are a place where community is built, positive health behaviors are modeled, and people are inspired.”

Peterson continued, “These will be the first, to my knowledge, art park and basketball courts in the country featuring backboard art. The artists Matt Hollister (Double Scribble contributor), Kevin Couliau (of Doin’ It In the Park fame) and David Huffman (San Francisco-based fine artist) did tremendous work.”

Check out the photos above to see the backboards, which look like they could be hung up in an actual art gallery, and the transformation Howze underwent thanks to the Grizzlies.

“Memphians love the Grizzlies and embrace all kinds of creative expression,” says Peterson. “The Grizzlies are committed to building a greater Memphis, and that means not only using our financial resources but also leveraging the sense of unity our team inspires in the city. When we go into a neighborhood park to renovate basketball courts and install fitness equipment, it is a signal that this park is for everyone in the city, not just a limited zip code.

“We use art to help create fun, safe and unique environments for everyone to grit and grind.”

Photos courtesy of Daniel Peterson and Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images

Ananth Pandian is a writer based in Boston. He’s on Twitter @Ananth_Pandian.

The post Grizzlies Transform a Court in Memphis (PHOTOS) appeared first on SLAM.

As Lowry told Yahoo back in March, he finally has found solid footing in the League: “My first couple years in the NBA, my fear was that I was going to go to the D-League—and maybe never get back to the NBA. You get a few chances, and then you’re done. Then you’re just a label, never to be a frontline guy. I did not want to be a backup in this League. I wasn’t going to settle for it, and I think it rubbed people the wrong way. I wanted the label of a guy who’s a winner. That’s the most important label you can have in this League.”

When you’re able to shake off unending trade rumors and questions about your ability to propel your team into the Playoffs, it’s pretty safe to say that Lowry is now seen as a winner. With fresh contracts from the Raptors and adidas, Lowry understands that these rewards are based on his team’s success. As he told SLAM this past summer, “This is a team game, and if you help your team do good, you get a chance to do good individually by joining people on good teams. My personal goal and our team goal is becoming the best we can possibly be.”

Lowry will have plenty of motivation this season as he can use his snubs from last year’s All-Star and All-NBA teams to push him. Although these are all individual goals, Lowry’s selfless play and leadership is what inspires his teammates. There is no drama coming from Lowry in Toronto. He is all business and his teammates follow his lead.

Reserve guard, Greivis Vasquez, explained to Grantland, why the Raptors look up to Lowry: “He’s always the first guy in the locker room and the last guy out. That’s professionalism. When I have my own team to run someday, I’m going to have flashbacks to all the winning plays he made here.”

Lowry is a jack of all trades for the Raptors, as he led Toronto to its first post-season appearance since 2008 and a franchise-record 48 victories, while averaging career-highs in points (17.9 ppg), assists (7.4 apg) and three-point percentage (38.3 percent). Lowry also learned to not gamble for steals on defense, consequently finishing among the League leaders in charges drawn.

This was all a long time coming for everyone who has known Lowry. As the since retired NBA great Chauncey Billups said last year, “Kyle has the perfect combination. And now he’s sharpened it.”

This all-around game is what makes Lowry one of the best guards in the League, as reserve Raptors forward Patrick Patterson explained to SBNation last season, “He always accepts the challenge and he’s just an active motor out there. He doesn’t stop, he never gets tired, he’s always trying to do the right thing for everybody and, most importantly, he can score. So you have to respect his scoring ability but also his ability to pass the ball.”

As great as Lowry’s season was last year, it ended in disappointing fashion. Not only did the Raptors lose in the closing seconds of a Game 7 against the Brooklyn Nets, the game ended with Nets forward, Paul Pierce, blocking Lowry on a potential game-winning shot.

If the Raptors could do it again, they would make a similar play call as Lowry is their guy. “We need an answer, we call Kyle Lowry,” reserve center Chuck Hayes said last season. “Kyle will figure it out.”

Hayes is right. If Lowry’s career has shown us anything, it’s that he will figure it out. He figured out how to comfortably sit among the game’s Top 50 players—what else will he figure out in the 2014-15 NBA season?

 
Rankings are based on expected contribution in ’14-15—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.

The post #SLAMTop50: Kyle Lowry, no. 34 appeared first on SLAM.

Shooting Touch is often referred to as the “Basketball Peace Corps” as through generous donations, the organization is able to fully fund two fellows to use basketball, as their mission says, as a tool “to improve the lives of youth from under-resourced areas of Rwanda.” The impact is palpable, as over 3,500 youth have had their lives positively changed because of Shooting Touch.

Incredible evening with Shooting Touch. Making a difference. @ShootingTouch pic.twitter.com/1eWzVBB5oq

— Howie (@hjtriano) September 21, 2014

Board member and current assistant coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, Jay Triano was in attendance and spoke about the impact of Shooting Touch, “Basketball is a sport that pays it forward. Donors pay it forward by funding Shooting Touch’s fellows. This changes the lives of the fellows. The fellows in turn, pay it forward by changing the lives of Rwanda’s youth.”

Shooting Touch has many supporters in the NBA besides Triano. The organization works with the NBA through NBA Cares and Boston Celtics forward, Kelly Olynyk is a very enthusiastic supporter. Olynyk brought his fellow Celtics teammates Chris Babb, Chris Johnson and Phil Pressey and coach Brad Stevens to the gala. He also put his chef skills, which he takes great pride in, up for auction, much to the delight of attendees.

2 private dinners cooked by @KellyOlynyk was just auctioned for $3000 each. $6K for Boston's @ShootingTouch! pic.twitter.com/pV9hclL65w

— Only In Boston (@OnlyInBOS) September 21, 2014

Besides being their half-decade anniversary, the gala was noteworthy for the release of a short documentary narrated by the great sportswriter, Jackie MacMullan. The documentary focused on the efforts of Shooting Touch in Rwanda and how through basketball, the organization is changing lives there:

As the documentary showed and afterward echoed in a speech by co-founder and executive directory, Lindsey Kittredge, “If you build a place to play. It builds hope.”

The cost of building a court in Rwanda is $5,000. A handful of attendees, including Triano, agreed to build two more Shooting Touch courts thus increasing the impact of the program.

With Rwanda in the heart Ebola of the crisis, organizations like Shooting Touch are providing help where it is sorely needed. The organization speaks to the magic of basketball as just a ball and a hoop can change lives. These are lives that will pay it forward all because of Shooting Touch.

For more information and to donate to Shooting Touch, visit their website: www.shootingtouch.com.

The post Positive Changes appeared first on SLAM.

Butler played center at New England prep school Phillips Exeter Academy, and his game has evolved since then as he told Rolling Stone in an entertaining profile back in January:

“I was always treated as a post player, because I’m tall, but in my twenties I realized that I could actually shoot. So I’m much more of a scorer now.”

Having played with Butler in two full-court pickup games before the band’s Boston area tour stop last week, I can attest that he can definitely score. Whether it’s pulling up from the three-point line or making the interior play, Butler knows how to put the ball in the basket. Butler’s love of basketball was never more evident when he revealed that he missed the band’s sound check because we were still playing.

After ending the day with a win, Butler took a drink of water and then graciously took the time to chat with SLAM about hoops, his desire to play in the All-Star Celebrity game, his upcoming charity game in Montreal, and plenty more.

SLAM: Is playing ball before a show a regular thing when the band is on tour?

Win Butler: I play in leagues in Montreal when I’m home so I’m always trying to play as much as I can. On the road, I don’t play every day but usually a friend in whatever city we are playing in is able to organize a run for me. Like that is what happened here with Luke (Matt Bonner’s brother Luke Bonner—Ed.), who organized today’s run. On this current tour, we have been playing in a lot more arenas, so like at the Verizon Center in DC, we played at the Wizards practice court, which was down the hall from our dressing rooms. Also we got to play in the Barclays Center, which has wonderful facilities.

SLAM: Out of all of these places you have played, what has been one of your favorite or most memorable?

WB: I usually play with my guitar tech so we often mainly play pickup at random courts. Like in Eastern Europe, Lithuania, you roll up to a court and there are like 10 guys who are 6-6 playing half court. There are some crazy pickup rules over there. For example, after every make, you inbound from the baseline and if someone missed whoever gets the rebound can just put it back in. Getting rebounds and scoring off inbounds are like my bread and butter so we end up owning a court for like two hours. I also like showing up to a court in a basketball city like Chicago, and people think you are a scrub but then you end up going on a crazy win streak.

SLAM: Do people ever recognize you when you step on the court? 

WB: Once in a while that happens but I’ve been trying to get in the All-Star Weekend celebrity game for years now, but for some reason I don’t count as a celebrity. I have the skill set to be in it so I don’t know.

SLAM: So how can people get behind you and let the NBA know that they want Win Butler in the celebrity game? Your buddy, Matt Bonner, was able to get into the 3-point contest with the #LetBonnerShoot movement.

WB: I was right behind that movement and got our fans involved by sending them the info. For me, maybe #LetWinPlay.

SLAM: Simple, but let’s work on getting that trending. So we were talking about how you are able to just show up to a court whether it is here in the US or in Europe and just start hooping. This speaks to the language of basketball…

WB: Yeah, man. Where I live in Montreal, my neighborhood is primarily made up of Haitians and Africans. I’ve been playing with a lot of them for years now and we established a friendship that is independent of music, independent of what you do for a living. It is camaraderie with people through basketball.

I was in New Orleans for three weeks and went to the same court basically every day. So I got to know the regulars and it was just a really cool way to connect with people and have a good time through basketball. But every year after 30 it is getting harder and harder. I’m 34 now, Kobe’s age.

SLAM: Ha, I hear ya. I was a little mad that I didn’t have time to stretch before playing today.

WB: It definitely doesn’t get any easier.

SLAM: Let’s say you get to play in a pickup game where the rest of your team is made up of NBA players. Could be current or retired players. Who are the other four players that would be on your team?

WB: I’m from Houston originally, so I grew up watching Hakeem every night. Hakeem is my all-time hero. Forget The Beatles, Hakeem has them beat.

SLAM: Nice, so Hakeem as your center…

WB: For the rest, I tend to relate to players that have a unique way of playing. They move differently or think differently about the game than your typical players. Like Rajon Rondo, he is a guy that just does things a little bit different. You can just tell that the wheels are turning in a slightly different way. I was never the most athletic player so I always relate to guys like that. Hakeem was athletic but it was more about how he moved, he kind of played like a dancer.

SLAM: So not a bad squad so far, Hakeem, Rondo and you.

WB: Probably also Pistol Pete, mainly for the razzle dazzle…

(Luke Bonner chimes in, “You have to have the all-time tenth man, Matt Bonner.”)

WB: Sure, got to have that stretch four in Bonner.

SLAM: So that is five…

WB: (Laughs) Wait, no dude that is absurd. Just put me on the ’93-94 Houston Rockets team. I will take Robert Horry’s spot—he can come off the bench. He can sub for me in the fourth quarter and hit all of those big shots.

SLAM: Here is another hypothetical, if you were the front man of a band made up of NBA players, who would be in it?

WB: Dr. J on the bass. That ‘70s rhythm section is a must have. Larry Bird on the cow bell, real simple, you know? Hakeem would probably be a pretty good drummer, he has that dexterity. Kevin Love on the keyboard since his Uncle is in The Beach Boys. Then I would also have Nate Robinson, just for the energy.

SLAM: Like your hype man?

WB: Yeah, Nate would be an amazing hype man. I think that is a pretty good band.

SLAM: That actually sounds like a very entertaining band. Have you played basketball with any other music guys before?

WB: I played with the Beastie Boys before; they have a run in New York. They are pretty good. There is this indie band called The Rosebuds and their guitar player is my height and played DII ball. He is like a true small forward type and is really good. I actually hold a charity game every year in Montreal called POP vs Jock, which takes places during the annual POP Montreal festival. This year’s game takes place on September 20 at McGill University. I get a lot of music guys to play in that. Justin Vernon [from Bon Iver—Ed.] is playing this year; he’s pretty good at ball.

SLAM: Right, I remember when you beat Matt Bonner in a three-point contest there a couple years ago. Who else is playing in it?

WB: With Matt, it was just all head games. I was in his head all day. He is not used to being the center of attention so that may have also gotten to him as well.

For the game, the whole concept is that one team is half college players, and the other team is musicians with some pro or ex-pro guys. So it evens out, competition wise. Matt played a couple of times. Brent Barry is playing this year. The rapper Stalley is going to play this year, he played college ball and is pretty good. Erin Heatheron, a Victora’s Secret model, will also be playing. She played serious AAU in Chicago growing up and she has that model height of six feet plus. Last year we had David Byrne play the halftime show, so it is a unique basketball event. It is kind of like the old MTV Rock N’ Jock games.

For more information on tickets for the September 20 POP vs Jock game, keep an eye on the POP Montreal festival website. To see Arcade Fire, check out their tour dates.

The post Q+A: Win Butler appeared first on SLAM.

“To be specific, we can look at an Indian in the NBA in five years. If we get our grassroots programs bigger and kids across this country start bouncing the ball rather than kicking it or hitting it with a strange paddle, there will be an enormous influx of very good and talented athletes into our game.”

One of those grassroots programs that is helping India’s youth bounce the ball is Crossover Basketball. Founded by Shaun Jayachandran in 2012, Crossover has held a free two-week summer program for youth aged 8-14 in Chennai, which is located in the southern part of the country. Crossover is not just focused on creating better Indian basketball players, but wants to use the sport to inspire Indian youth. From its website:

The main objective of Crossover Basketball is to use basketball as a vehicle of change in communities in India by combining the ideas of academics and sport – imparting the values of leadership, character, teamwork, and communication with the goal of inspiring and preparing those students to continue in their educational pursuits through the university level.

Jayachandran, who has a background in teaching and coaching basketball, founded Crossover because the problems surrounding poverty and education in India really touch home for him. With family hailing from the Chennai area, Jayachandran has seen firsthand the level of depravity that exists in certain corners of the country and knows that education and confidence will help Indian youth get out of a seeming never-ending cycle. “In the entire world, one in five children are actually in India. With that large of a number, many of the children end up becoming part of the poor and marginalized which leads to them often being left behind. In India, graduation rates hover around 10 percent! Using basketball as a vehicle of change, Crossover participants learn leadership, communication, teamwork and character skills which give them the necessary tools to become future leaders.”

The program has grown by leaps and bounds since its inception in 2012 when it served 45 underprivileged youth. This summer over 400 youth participated in the program. As the program’s numbers have grown so have their staff, which includes college basketball players, high school and college coaches and even several high school basketball players. Of note is that all of Crossover’s staff are volunteers, as their belief in the organization’s mission is what drives them to support the program. Maryland guard Varun Ram explained to SLAM in an email exchange why he decided to volunteer this summer: “Crossover was a great opportunity to give back to a community in need using the basketball and leadership skills that I have acquired growing up around the game. As a first generation Indian American, the opportunity to give back to the community in which my parents were brought up added extra incentive.”

Basketball is truly used as a vehicle of change at Crossover, as the program itself resembles a normal basketball camp:

The main difference between Crossover and a typical basketball camp is that Crossover includes classroom sessions that focus on leadership. “Our leadership/academic program centers around Crossover’s Four Pillars of Success—leadership, character, teamwork, and communication—and the introduction of Coach John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success,” Jayachandran says. “Each student goes through four rotations per day with one exclusively in a classroom setting that allows our faculty to connect with students about each pillar and the building blocks in the Pyramid of Success.”

What makes all of the work Crossover has been doing so remarkable is that Jayachandran has managed to run a successful program despite not having any major donors. Getting a generous donation of free gym space from the American International School of Chennai has helped immensely but he admits that, “The biggest obstacle has been in connecting donors passionate about Crossover’s mission. Funding a startup non-profit has required us to be extremely lean which takes away from time being spent furthering the impact of the program.”

Harvard forward Jonah Travis—a two-time volunteer—explained in an email exchange with SLAM, “The enthusiasm and the appreciation of the children is what kept me coming back. Being able to see that there are kids out there that appreciate what you are doing for them so much that they would do just about anything to be a part of the program, it makes you reexamine your everyday approach to life.”

Maggie Brown, a forward at Trinity College in Hartford, CT, echoed similar thoughts in an email, saying, “We saw kids laughing and screaming their heads off, simply because they had made a layup after days of trying. We saw kids who smiled in amazement as they entered camp, simply because there was a clean water cooler and bathroom awaiting their arrival. Crossover made all of this possible, simply by using basketball to create change.”

With all of the impact Crossover has already accomplished, Jayachandran is focused on keeping the program strong. “Next summer we plan to implement a joint internship program between Teach For India, Crossover, and Harvard University where students will spend time observing a classroom for a few weeks, working with Crossover, and then returning to the same classroom to observe and further develop impact,” he says. “Also, we intend to not grow our student population from this year, but to enhance the training and learning of our faculty in order to allow them to further their impact.”

With the popularity of basketball in India at an all-time high, Crossover is not only teaching the sport to youth, but also creating hope and change through it. “The game of basketball is about so much more than just winning or losing,” Ram says. ”It is about the life-changing impact that the game can have on a person or community.” For more information on Crossover, visit its website.

The post Nation To Nation appeared first on SLAM.

This past Saturday’s Sneakers and Speakers concert at the picturesque Redhook Brewery in Portsmouth drew a capacity crowd, as close to a thousand came to hear The Whigs, Kevin Devine & the Goddamn Band and New Hampshire’s own Okkervil River. But with the San Antonio Spurs winning the 2014 NBA Finals, the crowd was also there to celebrate with Bonner and the Larry O’Brien trophy, which was making a stop in New Hampshire as part of the Spurs Trophy Tour.

The day before, Bonner had taken the trophy around his hometown of Concord, as the trophy visited his basketball camp, his high school and even the state’s capitol building. From the Spurs Trophy Tour Blog:

“Other spots on the city tour hosted by the Red Rocket included a trip to the Boys Club (where Matt said he hung out a lot playing games, other than basketball) and the New Hampshire State House. Possibly the coolest spot of the day was when we pulled up to Concord High School, where Matt guided his team to three state championships (Matt quickly barked it should have been four). Upon entering the gym, Matt’s No. 15 jersey hung near the ceiling, ensuring it was the first thing you noticed walking in. Also in the entrance was a trophy case and display of all of Matt’s accomplishments while in high school that was labeled “An Athlete and a Scholar.” Matt quickly placed the Larry O’Brien trophy next to the case for photos. He then took pictures in the gym where he made his mark from grades 9-12.”

Paying General John Stark his respect. #LiveFreeOrDie pic.twitter.com/kxW7IND0sr

— Luke Bonner (@LukeyBonner) July 11, 2014

The trophy being in New Hampshire was such a momentous occasion that New Hampshire’s Governor Maggie Hassan came and congratulated Bonner at the concert. She even issued an official proclamation naming July 12, 2014, Rock On Foundation Day. The proclamation includes this fun and official statement:

“WHEREAS, Matt Bonner has brought the Larry O’Brien Trophy to the event today to celebrate his San Antonio Spurs winning the NBA Championship, Matt’s second title in his 10 year career.”

With the trophy up on stage during the performances by the Whigs, Kevin Devine & the Goddamn Band and Okkervill River, SLAM was able to chat with Bonner during the concert to learn about the Spurs Trophy Tour in his home state:

SLAM: This is the first U.S. stop (the other being New York with Danny Green) for the Spurs Trophy Tour. Did you have to help sort out any of the logistics of bringing it to New Hampshire?

Matt Bonner: Luckily, I didn’t have to take care of any of the logistics. I just told them I would like it on these dates and the Spurs took care of it. One of their PR professionals, Mitch, is here and he has taken it all around the world. Luckily, New Hampshire is one of the stops.

SLAM: How does it feel to bring the trophy to New Hampshire and celebrate with everyone here?

MB: It really means a lot. I have a lot of pride being from here. Making it to the NBA, a state, really an area of the country, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, that hasn’t really sent anyone to the NBA. To be able to bring it here, to all of the people that have supported me my whole career, really brings everything full circle. It is great to be able to celebrate with them.

SLAM: I saw some pictures and it looks like you were also able to bring the trophy to your basketball camp, which takes place at your old middle school. I’m guessing the kids went a little crazy when they saw it.

MB: Yeah, it was great. We have four different groups at camp based on age. We had high school, NCAA, D-League and NBA. We were announcing the champions from these age groups one by one. We saved the NBA for last, turned on “We are the Champions” and brought out the trophy as a surprise. Everyone went nuts and it was fun to see.

The #SpursTrophyTour made its way back to the States. Larry visited Matt Bonner’s basketball camp in New Hampshire! pic.twitter.com/M9G8yqdo5s — San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) July 11, 2014

SLAM: Governor Maggie Hassan just proclaimed today, Rock On Foundation Day. What are your thoughts about this pretty amazing honor?

MB: Again, just pride. I’m glad it is Rock On Foundation Day. It is not about me. It is about the community and the programs we support and the kids we help.

SLAM: This is the second year that Sneakers and Speakers has been at the Redhook Brewery, I know in the past you have had the event at different cities around the state. Is this location going to be the official one?

MB: Yeah, I hope so. We’ve developed a good relationship with Redhook. A lot of what they stand for aligns with Rock On’s mission, with the promotion of the arts and the community. Hopefully it can be a long-term relationship.

(Sidenote: Working with Luke Bonner’s hard cider brewing expertise, Redhook Brewery created Rock On Saison, a “Belgian Saison, brewed with Orange Peel, Lemon Peel and Coriander. Fermented with a French Saison yeast strain.” The beer can be found at select bars in New Hampshire, and all of the funds from sales of the beer will go towards Rock On.)

SLAM: Before coming to celebrate with New Hampshire, you and the Spurs got to celebrate in San Antonio with the river parade. I noticed that your infant son was rocking a tie. Why the formal look?

MB: [Laughs] It was actually a t-shirt tie!

SLAM: [Laughs] Ah, I couldn’t really pick that up from the video for some reason. Tell me a little bit more about the parade—it was your second championship but you were on a boat with your family, which must have felt extra special.

MB: The parade was insane. Our daughter just turned 5, so these are probably going to be her earliest memories and she will be able to remember the parade forever, which means a lot. I remember when we got to the Conference Finals, her school year ended. She knows that when school ends, it is time to come to New Hampshire for the summer.

After her last day of school, she was asking, “When are we going to New Hampshire?” I was like, Well, it may not be for another month. I explained to her how we were in the Playoffs and if we keep winning, it will delay us from getting to New Hampshire. But then I let her know that if we win the Championship, we get a Championship parade. So then for the next month, that is all she lived for, the Championship parade. I don’t think anyone in the world would have been any more devastated if we didn’t win it than her.

SLAM: Amazing. Did that provide any extra motivation for you?

MB: That was one aspect for sure. I don’t know how I would have broken the news to her if we somehow lost.

SLAM: The Whigs, Kevin Devine and Okkervil River are performing here today but besides them what else have you been listening to?

MB: I love the new Antlers album. Sad but beautiful music. Absolutely love the new War On Drugs album. That is probably my favorite album of the year so far. If anyone can dethrone that album in my mind they would have definitely earned it.

Learn more about Matt Bonner’s and Luke Bonner’s Rock On Foundation on their website and check out pictures from the Spurs Trophy Tour in New Hampshire on the Spurs’ website.

The post Rock On, Matt Bonner appeared first on SLAM.

During the days leading up to and right before the tip, many would not have given the Notre Dame Fighting Alumni a chance against Team Barstool. Besides Jones and Boone, Team Barstool also had the talented former Seton Hall point guard Andre Barrett and former Florida forward Matt Walsh on their roster. Not only did Team Barstool have the bigger names, but they also had the majority of fan support at Boston University’s Case Gymnasium.

Fan support was one of the main aspects of TBT; all of the 32 teams that qualified had to meet a minimal amount of online fan support. At Saturday night’s finale, Team Barstool successfully got hundreds of their fans to be in attendance. Clad in Team Barstool’s t-shirts chanting “I Believe,” the crowd, coupled with the $500k that was on the line, created an intense game environment.

Despite the Fighting Alumni scoring the first few baskets, Team Barstool did not get rattled as they feed off the crowd’s energy and the play of Barrett, whose quickness and aggression in the opening frame of the first half, put Barstool in the lead. The first half ended with Dahntay Jones scoring 5 points in the last minute to give Barstool a slim 5-point halftime lead. But in the second half it was a different story as the Fighting Alumni played lockdown defense, stopping Barrett’s drives and forcing shooters like Matt Walsh and Donnie McGrath (Providence, 2002-2006) into contested shots which resulted in Barstool shooting 1-for-13 behind the arc for the half. While Barstool had highly talented and skilled players, they didn’t have the familiarity that the Fighting Alumni had. “We felt like we were back in college,” Fighting Alumni forward Ryan Ayers said.

The Fighting Alumni looked just like a college team, playing full court defense, running base line out of bounds plays and moving the ball to get balanced scoring from inside the paint and from behind the arc. Led by the scoring of eventual MVP Tyrone Nash (19 points), Ayers (15 points) and Kurz (11 points), the Fighting Alumni held off Team Barstool for the victory and the $500k grand prize. As their win seemed imminent, the sizeable faction of Notre Dame fans, including former NBA player and Notre Dame alumni Luke Harangody, started to chant “Get that money!” while the Fighting Alumni celebrated on the bench. The Fighting Alumni counted on these fans to get them into TBT and they came through for them in the finale. “It felt like we back at the Joyce (Notre Dame’s home arena). Coach (Mike) Brey always said that the Joyce travels with us. If we go to the West Coast, we can count on our fans to make that gym, Joyce West. If we go to the East Coast, we got the Joyce East. Wherever we go, it will always be the same due to our fans,” guard Tory Jackson remarked after the game.

For TBT, this was just the first tournament of many. The championship game was broadcast live on ESPN3, and next year TBT hopes to have a TV deal for the whole tournament. Sports Illustrated’s Luke Winn sums up this year’s experience for TBT:

“The Basketball Tournament itself is an underdog story. Three years ago, Jonathan Mugar, a 38-year-old television producer who has worked on Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! and Comedy Bang! Bang!, texted childhood friend Dan Friel, a federal prosecutor in New Orleans, about his idea for an open, national hoops event that might have 1,000 teams, a $10 million prize and a nationally televised final. Mugar eventually pitched the idea to Hoop Group president Rob Kennedy, an expert in tournament logistics, and found a group of Boston investors to back the project. This past weekend in Philly, the first incarnation of TBT actually happened, with 32 teams in slick, tourney-issued jerseys, officiated by Division I refs, playing for a half-million-dollar purse.

 

Because the inaugural TBT did not have a TV deal, it operated at nearly $1.5 million in the red, but that was a loss the organizers were prepared to stomach. They hope that TBT will grow into a multi-region event (possibly Philadelphia, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles) with a Final Four site and a multiplatform media deal for 2015 and beyond. Relying almost exclusively on Internet and social-media buzz—TBT’s advertising budget consisted of one $1,000 Facebook ad buy—they reeled in a 2014 field filled with where-are-they-now players, many of them professionals in the NBA D-League, Europe or South America.”

In whatever iteration TBT comes back with next year, they can already count on one thing: the Notre Dame Fighting Alumni will be back to defend their title.

The post The Fighting Alumni Win Big at The Basketball Tournament appeared first on SLAM.