In its fifth year, the Red Bull Half Court, with 8,000 men’s and women’s players from 21 different countries, are bringing the World Finals to Brooklyn Bridge Park where qualifying teams from countries around the world including Australia, Belgium, Egypt, India, Japan, Serbia, the Philippines, Italy and the UAE, will play for the right to be crowned world champions.

For the USA, the path to the finals begins with the men’s and women’s qualifiers on August 17 in Atlanta and New York City at Happy Warrior Playground. We’ve assembled our own squad for the occasion with a stacked women’s roster set on moving to the US finals on October 18. The winner of the New York City qualifiers will face the winners from Atlanta, with the USA champs moving on to the World Finals on Oct. 19-20 where a surprise awaits.

In collaboration with Project Backboard, Red Bull will unveil a new court at Brooklyn Bridge Park, courtesy of their court design contest. From now until September 1, local designers, street art lovers and basketball fans have the opportunity to design the basketball court of their dreams for a chance to have it brought to life at the Red Bull Half Court World Finals in October. The winning court will be chosen by a jury of NYC and basketball tastemakers, including Alex Taylor of Hoop York City, Brian Kortovich of Smokin’ Aces, Project Backboard, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Project Backboard and your very own here at SLAM.

At last year’s Red Bull Half Court World Finals held in Belgrade, Serbia, the hometown heroes Team Serbia beat Team Poland in a nail-biting overtime thriller. On the women’s side, Team Egypt took home their first-ever women’s title after beating the defending champs, Team Japan.

This year, the competition is introducing a new flair to the sporting rules. A three-point shot, marked by two circles with a three-foot diameter drawn 6.5 feet behind the arc, will add a new level of intensity within the tournament.

“The art of shooting continues to be the most critical skill set for a player at every level of competition,” says shooting coach Chris Matthews, aka Lethal Shooter, who coaches numerous NBA players. “With the new three-pointer coming into Red Bull Half Court, every team from every country will have to hone this shot to secure a bid to the World Finals at Brooklyn Bridge Park.” As Team SLAM gears up to take care of business this weekend, all eyes are on the City of Dreams.

Photos via Red Bull.

The post Red Bull Brings the Half Court World Finals to New York City to Crown a New 3on3 Champion This October appeared first on SLAM.

The free-agent guard just dropped 81 points (ode to the Mamba) in The Crawsover Pro-Am League, which is put on every summer by hometown hero Jamal Crawford.

And it was even better in person!!!!!!!!! What @isaiahthomas did today we will be talking about decades from now https://t.co/RaP4uHXuaN

— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) August 9, 2021

The Seattle native usually suits up in his Nike Kobe Protros and gets to work on the summer circuit, pulling up from well beyond the arc and using his All-NBA footwork to slice around the defensive pressure.

Yesterday’s run at Seattle Pacific University was nothing less than extraordinary. Thomas had poured in 40 points before halftime including a bone-chilling crossover that sent his defender sliding four feet.

Thomas has been on a rampage this summer, scoring 37 in his Drew League debut back in July, setting the AEBL scoring record with 65 just a week later, then dropped this 81-point gem.

Nearly a year removed from his latest hip surgery, Thomas is in peak condition, flying past defenders with ease and displaying his quintessential shot-making that made him so deadly in his Eastern Conference battles with the Boston Celtics.

Give IT a shot. He’s more than ready for the League.

The post Isaiah Thomas Stuns Pro-Am League Crowd with 81 Points appeared first on SLAM.

Peep the full highlights in the video above!

RELATED: Kevin Porter Jr ERUPTS for 40-Point Triple-Double in Seattle Pro-Am Return

The post Kevin Porter Jr Had RANGE in INSANE Seattle Pro-Am Comeback 🎯 appeared first on SLAM.

Porter Jr also ran with Isaiah Thomas at IT’s Zeke-End tournament in Tacoma, WA.

The post Kevin Porter Jr ERUPTS for 40-Point Triple-Double in Seattle Pro-Am Return 🔥 appeared first on SLAM.

The brainchild of former Wofford guard and overseas pro Jamar Diggs, the TCPA filled the void for the now defunct Howard Pulley Pro-Am. Blending high school, college, and NBA players, the Twin Cities Pro-Am offers elite talent at all three levels with a sick atmosphere to match. Held at the famed De La Salle HS in downtown Minneapolis, fans packed out “The Island” for all of the tourney games to see local legends go at it with the next wave of stars. The top DJ in Minny was spinning tracks and sponsors such as  N1 Motion, Catalyst Training, and Dr. Dish were giving out freebies for the hoopheads in the building. Ultimately, it was Team Tyus that beat the defending champ Errol Carlstrom Playaz in Diggs’ continually emerging event.

“My goal was to create a unique space with the highest level of talent for fans of Minnesota basketball,” Jamar explained to SLAM. “From promising prospects to proven vets, the premise was to provide special rivalries for the players to compete and for the fans to enjoy — for free.”

Here are some of the players who caught our eye at the 2018 Twin Cities Pro-Am:

Tyus Jones, 6’1, PG, Minnesota Timberwolves

The T’Wolves ever developing guard was out there playing chess while everyone else was playing checkers. His innate ability to control the game with his pick-and-roll play was yet another example of why he’s been a floor general beyond his years. Leading his Team Tyus unit to the ‘chip, Jones showed off a more sculpted physique and improved ability to finish through contact for what could be a breakout fourth campaign in the League.

McKinley Wright, 6’1, PG, Sophomore, Colorado

The top college baller at The Island was undoubtedly McKinley Wright, who is coming off of a freshman campaign that saw him earn All Pac-12 freshman team honors. The gritty playmaker straight killed cats with his change of pace, finishes above the rim, and sick plays off of ball screens. The one time Dayton recruit has continually proved the doubters wrong and as he continues to gain consistency on his outside J, will establish himself as one of the very best PG’s that the NCAA has to offer.

Rashad Vaughn, 6’6, SG, Free Agent

Still trying to find his place in the League, many forget that Rashad Vaughn is still younger (not even 22 years old yet) than a lot of the players who were picked in this past June’s NBA Draft, despite the fact that he has three years of NBA experience under his belt. He showed effortless range, an improved ability to create off of the bounce, and a willingness to lock down on D that we hadn’t seen before. With endless two-way deals sitting on the table, Rashad is holding out for a guaranteed roster spot and certainly showed that he has the natural talent to lock one up.

Royce White, 6’8, PF, Fiat Torino (Italy)

One of the bigger basketball enigmas as of late, Royce White is still raising awareness for mental illness and balling with the best of ’em. The point forward was an outstanding playmaker with the ball in his hands, displaying his unique ability to create for others at 260 pounds and the agility to slyly manuever around opposing bigs. Signed to play for Larry Brown in Italy this year, White has the opportunity to take both his game and his advocacy to new heights in ’18-19.

Geno Crandall, 6’4, PG/SG, Senior, Gonzaga

While many outside of the region may have never heard of Geno Crandall prior to this summer, rest assured that it is a name you will familiarize yourself with this upcoming season. The most highly sought after grad transfer is heading to Gonzaga after putting up averages of 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists at North Dakota. Against pros, he showed a reliable jumper from NBA range, made great passes with either hand, and showed a readiness to compete on both ends with whomever he matched up with. Crandall joins a veteran laden Zags squad that will find itself amongst the top-5 in NCAA polls to start the season.

Zeke Nnaji, 6’10, PF, Hopkins HS (MN), 2019

A player whom we stumbled upon two and a half years ago running with Howard Pulley 15U has continually improved to the point that he is now a consensus top-40 dude in the country. Playing against grown men with a minor knee injury, the athletic big punished the rim, shot the ball well from the perimeter, and showed a ton of versatility on the defensive end. With offers from just about every big time program in the country, Nnaji has experienced one of the more meteoric rises of anyone in the class of 2019.

Cameron Rundles, 6’2, PG, Stella Leuven (BEL)

Perhaps the toughest dude in the Pro-Am, Cam Rundles didn’t care who you were or where you played, he was going to go right at you on both ends. The fearless lead guard came with an attack first mindset, shot the rock well from deep, and put the clamps on opposing guards. The Minneapolis native has consistently carved out a nice niche for himself on the European market and is expected to have a breakout year in Belgium.

David Roddy, 6’5, PF, Breck HS (MN), 2019

Even though Roddy doesn’t fit the prototypical mold, he still kills everyone as a 6-foot-5 power forward. With his shooting and post-up play, Roddy was a consistent all-around scoring threat. A high major athlete on both the gridiron and hardwood, he grabbed hoops offers from Minnesota, Nebraska, and Northwestern over the past week.

Video via And-One Films. 

RELATED
Report: Tyus Jones Considered Requesting Trade From Wolves

The post Tyus Jones, Royce White and More Do Work at Twin Cities Pro-Am 💪 appeared first on SLAM.

Tatum showed off an array of dunks and jumpers, as he easily dominated the competition.

The Boston Celtics’ 20-year-old superstar also threw out the first pitch for his hometown Cardinals.

Jayson Tatum after throwing out tonight's first pitch: "The mound is a lot farther than I expected." #STLCards pic.twitter.com/hRcecQeHZF

— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) July 14, 2018

The post Jayson Tatum Dominates Pro-Am in St. Louis appeared first on SLAM.

Footage from the game is limited, but here’s a clip of Johnson, 21, bullying his way to the rim for his 80th point.

@iAmSJ 80th point for a old fashioned 3pt play in regulation @SLAMonline @Ballislife against other leaguers #OVOBOUNCE pic.twitter.com/OVGEkbCDHm

— Charlie Max Torres (@bucketsworth) August 5, 2017

According to Ballislife, Johnson dropped 16 of his 86 points during a 20-second span in the fourth quarter.

After Johnson’s ridiculous display, plenty of NBA players weighed in on his performance.

@iAmSJ 86?!?

— Reggie Jackson (@Reggie_Jackson) August 5, 2017

This dude Stanley just dropped 86 #ovobounce

— Josuélito (@J_Rich1) August 5, 2017

https://twitter.com/JordanClarksons/status/893703761834766336

https://twitter.com/brandonjennings/status/893680047218991106

86pts? Sheesh @iAmSJ

— Spencer Dinwiddie (@SDinwiddie_25) August 5, 2017

@iAmSJ ICU puttin on a show

— Jamal Murray (@BeMore27) August 5, 2017

RELATED:
Respect The Game Episode 46: Stanley Johnson

Image via @ovobounce

The post Stanley Johnson Drops 86 Points in OVO Bounce Championship Game appeared first on SLAM.

Harden finished with 45 points, helping LA Unified eliminate Young (34 points) and the Most Hated Players squad.

Final:

91-82, LAUNFD

LAU will take on Hometown Favorites next week! Better luck next year, MHP!#TheDrew

— Drew League (@DrewLeague) August 7, 2017

Swaggy P also hooped alongside Julius Randle and JaVale McGee.

The post James Harden Outduels Nick Young in Drew League Playoffs appeared first on SLAM.

The two NBA All-Stars got loose, but their squad still came up short.

The post James Harden and John Wall Dominate Miami Pro League appeared first on SLAM.

Harden (27 points, 12 rebounds) and CP3 (13 points, 10 assists) led LA Unified to a 83-81 victory against the Hometown Favors.

(Russell Westbrook was a no-show.)

Per the LA Daily News:

The line snaked around King-Drew Magnet school as early as 8 a.m. on Sunday. Nearly 10 hours later, over 1,500 people filled the gym. About 500 people were left standing outside eager to catch a glimpse.

 

Paul and Harden declined to speak to reporters afterward. But Drew League commissioner Dino Smiley echoed the thoughts of many that saw what transpired.

 

“There was a lot of energy,” Smiley said. “It was draining, intense and unbelievable to have NBA stars on the field. It was fantastic, a great evening.”

 

Drew League officials anticipated Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook would play, which would set up a matchup with Harden after beating him for the regular season’s MVP award. But officials were informed Russell did not want to play after experiencing some minor ailments in recent days. It’s not clear if Westbrook will play when the Drew League All-Stars (featuring Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan and Golden State forward Nick Young) host Jamal Crawford’s Seattle pro-am team at Southwest College on at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

Related
Chris Paul, James Harden Dominate Pick-Up Game at UCLA

The post James Harden and Chris Paul Team Up in Drew League appeared first on SLAM.

Per ESPN, Harden and CP3 will be facing stiff competition—Russell Westbrook and the Home Town Favorites.

The game will be played at King Drew High School on Sunday at 6 p.m. PST.

NBA All-Star guard James Harden and backcourt newcomer Chris Paul are expected to team up Sunday for LA Unified in the Drew League in Los Angeles, a source told The Undefeated. […]

 

The matchup at the famed Pro-Am is even more intriguing due to the fact that LA Unified plays Home Town Favorites, which is expected to star 2017 NBA Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook, a source said.

RELATED:
Chris Paul, James Harden Dominate Pick-Up Game at UCLA

The post Report: James Harden, Chris Paul to Face Russell Westbrook in the Drew League appeared first on SLAM.

DeRozan snapped after getting mauled on a drive to the hoop, and no whistle was blown.

The NBA All-Star finished with 41 points.

The post DeMar DeRozan Throws Ball at Drew League Ref appeared first on SLAM.

The Hangar, and its 35,000 square feet, has become a hotspot for all types of events in recent years. Car shows, concerts, and design fairs have all come through at different points.

This weekend, though, the Hangar played host to hoopers from the greater-Los Angeles area and the final stop of the six-city #DewNBA3X tour. The nationwide 3-on-3 tournament kicked off in May and made its way through Atlanta, Miami, Dallas, Chicago and Houston. Thousands of men and women competed for the grand prize—a chance to represent America at the FIBA 3×3 tournaments at the end of this year.

Basketball has taken over Santa Monica Airport this weekend, where the NBA & Mountain Dew are hosting #DewNBA3x, a 3-on-3 national tourney. pic.twitter.com/TzzR4mG3Tz

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) October 22, 2016

On Saturday, teams representing Los Angeles vied for a spot to play on Sunday (against the winners from the previous five cities), when the FIBA spot would be on the line. Familiar names like Youtube sensation and NBA player impersonator Brandon Armstrong, better known as BdotAdot5, and Franklin Session, Damian Lillard’s teammate at Weber State, suited up on Saturday. Additionally, former and current NBA players like Gary Payton, Baron Davis, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson all stopped by as well.

.@J30_RANDLE talks @MountainDew partnership, Lakers exceeding expectations this year & life after Kobe, while at #DewNBA3X this past weekend pic.twitter.com/FHfs2Ictf2

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) October 24, 2016

“The rules are really different. I wasn’t expecting any of this,” Armstrong said. “Once the team scores, you gotta get the ball and throw it back out. So the first possession they scored, I got it and walked it back out to check it out. They called a travel on me,” he said with a smile.

FIBA has made sure to make the playing and watching experience very different from 5-on-5 ball. Games are to 21, or whoever has the most points after the 10-minute clock expires. There’s a 12-second shot clock and like Bdot said, there’s no checking after buckets. Instead, players grab the ball straight out the basket and throw it up top, past the three-point line.

The game’s played with 1 and 2-pointers. When fouled, teams get one shot until their opponent commits six team fouls, after which they get two shots.

The pace of the game isn’t at all like 5-on-5, which DewNBA3X ambassador Gary Payton noticed.

“Three-on-three, you gotta play defense,” The Glove said. “It’s a lot different. Now you gotta buckle down and guard.”

Team Harlem got the message. The four native New Yorkers traveled out west to win the LA crown and eventually the whole tour.

The six-city #DewNBA3X tourney culminated in LA on Sunday night, with Team Harlem of New York claiming the 3-on-3 title. Peep the top plays. pic.twitter.com/3WxUowXJth

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) October 25, 2016

And yes, a team from New York represented LA. But because the #DewNBA3X tour didn’t have a stop in New York, Anthony Cox, Kavon Lytch, Domo Jones and Dave Seagers traveled across the country to compete for the title of Los Angeles’ best team.

The foursome played a grueling brand of basketball, punishing anyone that stood between them and the basket. They were all capable of getting buckets by themselves and were willing passers when teams brought two or more bodies.

Their game oozed New York. They played one-on-one, dribble breakdown ball, prioritizing getting to the rim over jumpshots. With Cox and Lytch standing 6-9 and 6-7, respectively, their height and athleticism was just too much for The Unknowns (Chicago) to overcome.

“It’s so funny because one of us is always with the other one,” Cox says. “We’ve been playing together for a while, a couple of years. We started off enemies. I played on a different team against Kavon. Dave, you think you got him, and then somehow he gets that bucket. He’s one of those annoying players. But you love his game. It’s a compliment. And Domo… that kid is amazing.”

[Domo] Jones plays with a raw desire to prove his height won’t stop him from getting where he wants to go. His strength was a mismatch for any guard he played against. He was a bully throughout every game, managing everyone on the court.

“We just knew if we played our game, we were going to come out victorious,” Jones says. “We’re all about that New York toughness. That’s all we do, is bring that toughness. Every where we go, we gotta represent where we’re from because ain’t nobody going to give us no passes so we earn it.”

They earned a trip to Doha for the 2016 FIBA 3×3 All-Stars game and at some point down the line, could be representing America in the 2020 Olympics, when 3×3 will become an official sport.

Though Armstrong’s team didn’t make it out of the first day, the YouTube star has already recognized that 3×3 ball is here to stay.

“It’s definitely something that [basketball players] can actually make a career out of and travel the world doing,” he says.

The post 2016 #DewNBA3X Tour Recap appeared first on SLAM.

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Jason Williams Ultimate Sacramento Kings Highlight Mix (VIDEO)

The post WATCH: Jason Williams Drops Dimes in Orlando Pro-Am appeared first on SLAM.

The LA Clippers guard made a defender slide and fall to the ground with an up-fake; pulled off a sweet fake behind-the-back, in-and-out move; and finished with 35 points in a tight victory.

Thank you to Ray and our whole security staff, Marci and everything she does at the pro am, Sue with our stats, our refs, trainers, coaches

— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) August 29, 2016

..players, and kids who volunteer

— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) August 29, 2016

Last but not least, thank you to all of you who come out each & every weekend to help us keep basketball alive in our community #206love

— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) August 29, 2016

The post WATCH: Jamal Crawford Drops Defender in Seattle Pro-Am Final appeared first on SLAM.

His Brandblack squad advances to the semifinals, with a shot at winning their third consecutive title.

For more on Crawford, peep this fascinating profile of the veteran showman over at The Undefeated:

The makings of a standout sixth man: Inside the life and times of @JCrossover.https://t.co/12GyN2H2E4

— The Undefeated (@TheUndefeated) August 23, 2016

The post WATCH: Jamal Crawford With 44 Points and 13 Assists in Seattle Pro-Am appeared first on SLAM.

Here you go @HQonESPN … a highlight. Since u guys love putting the lowlights… pic.twitter.com/XKRzaxDmcD

— PÎÊRRĘ (@JaValeMcGee34) August 21, 2016

The big fella’s squad, Juglife, fell in the Drew League finals Sunday to BB4L (which features Baron Davis, Stanley Johnson and Terrence Ross.)

The final playoff bracket caps a perfect, undefeated season for @BaronDavis' BB4L. The 2016 Drew League Champions. pic.twitter.com/HIckJ8T7zw

— Drew League (@DrewLeague) August 22, 2016

Unstoppable!

Congrats to 2016 Drew League Champions, BB4L, on their FLAWLESS season.#thedrew pic.twitter.com/z6D8r36g93

— Drew League (@DrewLeague) August 22, 2016

The post WATCH: JaVale McGee Posterizes Helpless Defender at the Drew League appeared first on SLAM.

Davis may not be able to fly like he used to, but does it matter? The 37-year-old Davis had his way with Drew defenders as he put on a scoring-clinic. The NBA comeback hopeful Davis, made statement after statement by lighting it up from downtown and finishing at the rim on multiple occasions.

Check out the video above to see Davis and Team BB4L dominate at the Drew.

The post WATCH: 37-Year-Old Baron Davis Drew League Highlights appeared first on SLAM.

Player of the Game for LAUNFD: @JHarden13 (42 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals)#thedrew

— Drew League (@DrewLeague) August 14, 2016

The All-Star guard also overcame heckles from one particularly feisty (and hilarious) fan sitting near the court.

The post WATCH: James Harden Drops 42 Points and Trash-Talks a Heckler appeared first on SLAM.

The big fella had a good sense of humor about everything, and even earned player of the game honors.

Smh… He ain't have to do me like that https://t.co/H7XWM762lX

— PÎÊRRĘ (@JaValeMcGee34) August 15, 2016

Player of the Game for #Juglife: @JaValeMcGee34 (27 points, 13 rebounds)#thedrew

— Drew League (@DrewLeague) August 15, 2016

James Harden and a bunch of other current and former NBA cats also showed up for the Drew League playoffs.

The post WATCH: Dorell Wright Posterizes JaVale McGee appeared first on SLAM.

From his 360 throw-down to his long range jumpers, Ross led his BB4L teammates to an undefeated regular season at the Drew.

Check out the video above to see T-Ross do damage in the Drew League.

The post WATCH: Terrence Ross Does Work at 2016 Drew League appeared first on SLAM.

Everyone from Allen Iverson and Jahlil Beats to Brett Brown and Joel Embiid came out to watch special guest James Harden battle local legend Malik Alvin.

“For me, to come here and to feel the vibe of this gym, in a basketball city like Philadelphia…I mean it’s just a good night,” Brown said. “The thing that has surprised me, is that these guys get after it defensively. There’s more defense played in this game than there is in the (NBA) All-Star game, and it’s highly competitive, and the crowd appreciates it. It’s a good night.”

The Mallery Recreation Center, now the Daniel E. Rumph II Recreation Center, is at the focal point of the games. Rumph died of a heart condition while playing basketball there in 2005. Since then, his friends have created the league to raise awareness and revenue to get life saving equipment such as defibrillators installed in schools, gyms and rec centers.

Mike Morak has helped to curate the league and legacy for his late friend. He offered great insight and enthusiasm.

“It’s a big group effort to be able to do something like this, and to be able to build it to this magnitude on a yearly basis,” Morak said. “Danny’s mom is the biggest driver for me. To see her smile, and having fun, and to see people wearing things with his name on it, is something that at the end of the day.

“I can sit back and appreciate that because in this city there are so many lives lost every year,” Morak continued. “And after 11 years, people still remember who he is. They are asking how did he pass away and that supports what the foundation wants to do, which is to build awareness, and to make a difference to save lives in the future.”

Photos courtesy of Kenny St. George

The post James Harden Leads Team FOE to Rumph Classic Title appeared first on SLAM.

The highlight reel includes the famous Shannin Sharpe posterizing throw-down that went viral in July. And if you liked that one, there are nine other dunks that are just as monsterous.

Check out the video above to watch the 10 most insane jams from this summer’s Drew League.

The post Watch the 10 Best Dunks of Drew League 2016 appeared first on SLAM.

Hit up the AEBL’s website for more info on the league, which is still going strong in the ATL this summer.

The post WATCH: 2015 Atlanta Entertainer’s Basketball League Recap appeared first on SLAM.

This past weekend, Parker hammered home back-to-back jams in some poor defender’s grill.

Per Ballislife:

Jabari Parker made his return to Nike’s Chi-League tournament over the weekend, making his first appearance since the summer of his rookie season.

 

The young Bucks forward made his presence known, finishing his first game with 31 points, 10+ rebounds and showing off a inside-out game.

The post WATCH: Jabari Parker With Consecutive Poster Dunks at Chi League Classic appeared first on SLAM.

Week 8 Player of the Week is Scrapes and Gravel’s Hassan Whiteside (@youngwhiteside).https://t.co/KCs9hbyjnq pic.twitter.com/O9sEeTCHsG

— Drew League (@DrewLeague) July 26, 2016

The $98 million big man finished with 30 points, 9 rebounds and six blocks as he led Scrapes over Hank’s Clozers in a 93-78 victory.

The post WATCH: Hassan Whiteside Dominates in Drew League Debut appeared first on SLAM.

I love hoop so much..

— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) July 26, 2016

The LA Clippers guard scored 44 points, including a floating game-winning three-pointer.

(H/T: Ballislife)

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Jamal Crawford Scores 63 and Hits Game-Winner (VIDEO)

The post WATCH: Jamal Crawford Drops 44 Points and Game-Winner at Seattle Pro-Am appeared first on SLAM.

A rough day at #thedrew for @AndreDrummondd. Posterized by both Sek Henry and @djshump18. #DunkCam. WILD! pic.twitter.com/YgSsfKfTEo

— Drew League (@DrewLeague) July 25, 2016

The All-Star big man took it all in stride.

Despite being on wrong end of the hilites, @AndreDrummondd had a dominant performance (27 points, 18 rebounds) in a losing effort.#thedrew

— Drew League (@DrewLeague) July 24, 2016

@DrewLeague thanks for the love! Hope everyone is ready for the dunk they are going to post . I got caught twice #Shrugs #goodsport

— Andre Drummond (@AndreDrummondd) July 24, 2016

We appreciate you Andre! #NoExcuseJustProduce https://t.co/aOB5gWqEOC

— Drew League (@DrewLeague) July 24, 2016

Drummond had a dominant performance—finishing with 27 points and 18 rebounds, but his squad lost 84-70.

The post WATCH: Andre Drummond Posterized Twice at the Drew League appeared first on SLAM.

Johnson hung an easy-looking 46 points on the competition.

I love hoopin!! https://t.co/WLPiZm7g3s

— NINO BROWN (@iAmSJ) July 18, 2016

Per Ballislife:

27 of those 46 came in the first half for Team ICEO vs Hank’s Clozers, which featured the USC duo of Bennie Boatwright (28 points) and former Ballislife All-American Chimezie Metu (17 points and 13 boards).

 

Unfortunately, Stanley’s one-man show wasn’t enough to pull off a victory as the Clozers came away with a 97-82 win behind 32 points from Jeremy Hemsley.

The post WATCH: Stanley Johnson Scores 46 Points at the Drew League appeared first on SLAM.

After getting the ball at the top of the key following a blocked shot, Sharpe takes one dribble and skies to the hoop. But enough with the words, peep the video above.

The post WATCH: Shannin Sharpe Jams On Defender At The Drew League appeared first on SLAM.

Crawford, 36, finished with 38 points but his squad fell 136-126.

The Kitsap Admirals knock off Brand Black 136-126 behind Newton's 41 pts.
Jamal Crawford: 38 pts
Terrence Williams 32 pts

— Seattle Pro Am (@SeattleProAm) July 11, 2016

All-Star Paul George also made an appearance in Seattle over the weeeknd—be sure to check out the highlights.

The post WATCH: Jamal Crawford Shows Out at the Seattle Pro-Am appeared first on SLAM.

The post WATCH: Paul George Goes Off at Seattle Pro Am appeared first on SLAM.

The former Houston Rocket isn’t spending his retirement out on the golf course or lounging on vacation. Instead, he’s still putting in work against the youngbloods at the Drew League. It’s helped earn him the nickname “Old Money” playing for the LAUNFD squad. Don’t let the gray hair fool you!

Peep the video above to see Mobley’s highlights from weekend No. 3 of the Drew League.

Previously: Grey-Haired Cuttino Mobley Still Balling In The Drew League

The post 40-Year-Old Cuttino Mobley Gets Buckets at The Drew League (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

From the streets of South Central LA to pro-am basketball league. Produced by @BaronDavis #THEDREW airs 4/29 8pET/PThttps://t.co/bRVCKIm8nE

— SHOWTIME SPORTS (@SHOsports) April 14, 2016

The doc airs for the first time on SHOWTIME April 29:

Produced and directed by NBA All Star Baron Davis, the incredible story of The Drew League from humble beginnings in the crime and gang infested streets of South Central Los Angeles to the nation’s foremost pro-am basketball league.

 

Crossing racial and cultural barriers, THE DREW celebrates the value of basketball, persistence, loyalty and above all, community. THE DREW featuring NBA stars Kevin Durant, DeMar DeRozan, Brandon Jennings and Davis premieres Friday, April 29th at 8PM ET/PT on SHOWTIME.

The post WATCH: Trailer for ‘The Drew’ Produced By Baron Davis appeared first on SLAM.

The post Ballislife Best of 2015 Mixtape (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

The Gardiner Foundation is known for its annual basketball tournament, held every year in St. James Park in the Kingsbridge section of The Bronx, NY. This past summer, the foundation hosted its 10^th annual tournament, which is hosted in memory of six of Gardiner’s family members, whose lives were lost in a terrible car accident on The Bronx River Parkway. Through the tournament, the foundation has donated over 1,500 backpacks filled with school supplies and has given away 32 college scholarships to students from within the community, who in some cases would not have had the chance to pay for college without assistance from the Gardiner Foundation.

As much as he has already given, however, there’s always been room for more in Gardiner’s eyes.

With the tournament being a positive influence in the community, he then went on to start the annual turkey giveaway, where he has since given away 1,500 turkeys and meals out to community members who otherwise would not have enjoyed any type of Thanksgiving meal.

Of course, the efforts of Gardiner have not gone unnoticed.

Many have seen what Gardiner has done for his community and are inspired to not only help him with his community outreach, but also to do the same within their own communities. Jeff Korek, a friend of Gardiner and a lawyer of Gersowitz, Libo & Korek, P.C. has joined forces with Gardiner in his efforts to uplift the community. Through Korek, Lawyertime.com has been working with the Gardiner Family since 2009.

Korek isn’t the only one inspired by Gardiner’s efforts.

This year, Gardiner had some extra assistance at the turkey giveaway. Two high school basketball teams from Nassau County came all the way to The Bronx to help make the day of different families and members of the community, and spread some holiday cheer. The girls’ basketball team from Oyster Bay High and the girls’ basketball team from Freeport High, along with head coaches Sandy Rossen and Meredith Jones (head coaches of Oyster Bay and Freeport, respectively) came out to show support and do their small part to help make strangers’ Thanksgiving a little better.

Volunteers and sponsors of the Gardiner foundation, such as Norah Grady, Sylvie Gaeckler, and Jeff Korek and his family were also in attendance and assisted in serving food to families. The Chief of Staff of Councilman Fernando Cabrera’s office, Greg Faulkner, was also in attendance. A representative from Councilman Cabrera’s office handed out citations to Dexter Gardiner and some of the volunteers, as well as to some of the sponsors of the foundation.

Dexter Gardiner and his team made their way into the local churches and housing projects to help those in need. Several hundred people were lined up around St. James Park to check in with the volunteers and collect their turkeys from the back of Gardiner’s rented U-Haul truck. Gardiner built the foundation upon his family’s legacy of helping people who are in need, and carries to people who have suffered similar losses by leading community outreach initiatives just like this turkey giveaway. Through hoops, Gardiner continues to dish out clutch assists to his community in hopes that his efforts will be the catalyst to help spread love and unity in much needed times.

The post Bronx Hoops Tourney Delivers For Thanksgiving appeared first on SLAM.

The game marked the first time the Seattle Pro-Am faced off against The Drew. In addition to Robinson and LaVine, NBA players like Jamal Crawford and Isaiah Thomas suited up for the Emerald City. The Drew was led by Stanley Johnson, Trevor Ariza and Baron Davis.

Seattle came out victorious with a 135-124 win. Check out the highlights:

See more of Zach LaVine at the Seattle Pro-Am:
Zach LaVine, Isaiah Thomas, Jamal Crawford Show Out at Seattle Pro-Am All-Star Game (VIDEO)
Zach LaVine Shows Out at Seattle Pro-Am Dunk Contest (VIDEO)
Zach LaVine Throws Free Throw Off Glass For Dunk (VIDEO)
Zach LaVine Scores 49 Points, Including Game-Winning 3-Pointer at Seattle Pro Am (VIDEO)

The post Zach LaVine Crushes Windmill Alley-Oop From Nate Robinson (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

For those that are unfamiliar, the Rumph Classic is an annual basketball tournament held in the honor of former Parkway High and Western Kentucky University standout Danny Rumph. Back in the summer of 2005, Danny passed away after hitting the game-winning shot of a pick up game in his hometown of Philadelphia.

An autopsy revealed that the WKU point guard died of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, a condition that serves as the leading cause of sudden cardiac arrest.

In July of that summer, Danny’s friends and family established the Daniel E. Rumph II Foundation. With a motto of “Save The Next Bright Star,” the D.E.R. II Foundation’s aim is to provide awareness of sudden cardiac arrest and to provide screenings for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

The foundation also provides Automated External Defibrillators for recreation centers all throughout the city. All proceeds from the Classic are donated to the Daniel E. Rumph II Foundation.

The 2015 edition of the Danny Rumph Classic brought out a myriad of big names ranging from NBA stars like Marcus and Markieff Morris, Dion Waiters and Robert Covington; to Philadelphia legends like Ronald “Flip “ Murray, Terquin Mott and Rasual Butler. The eight-team, five-day playoff, which is a culmination of great basketball played all summer; attracted raucous crowds across the playoff’s span, and was filled with highlight reel passes, dunks and crossovers.

The opening round of the playoffs was void of much excitement, as all four matchups resulted in double-digit victories for the winners. But the second round kicked off on a high note and maintained the excitement throughout the night.

The first game featured the defending champs Skeem Team (Villanova Alum) against the host team Rumph Center. The first half of this game belonged to former La Salle University standout Ramon Galloway of Rumph Center. He was seemingly unstoppable, as he attacked the rim relentlessly getting anything he wanted in the paint. Villanova great Scottie Reynolds quickly answered back for Skeem Team with a spurt of his own toward the end of the first half but his team still faced a nine-point halftime deficit.

The second half was a back-and-forth affair as the teams traded baskets and the lead for the majority of the final frame. Skeem Team had just made an impressive run to cut the Rumph Center lead to one with a minute to go in the contest. But Galloway came up big once again, knocking down a contested three to seal the game for Rumph Center.

The most exciting game of the second round of action was between the Morris twins’ FOE squad and Robert Covington’s D-Line team. This game was a shootout from the start as D-Line jumped out to a quick 10-point lead to begin the game. FOE stormed back behind the play of the Morris twins and speedy point guard Maalik Wayns, cutting D-Line’s lead to four at the break.

The intense pace remained consistent throughout the entire second half right up until the very end. With 15 seconds remaining, D-Line watched their five-point lead vanish after three straight turnovers trying to inbound the ball. FOE converted on all three turnovers, including a three from Hampton University alum Vinny Simpson. Following an immediate timeout, D-Line drew up a brilliant half court out-of-bounds play that set up Robert Covington to get fouled with five seconds remaining on the clock. The Sixers forward stepped to the line and calmly drained two, tying things up at 68.

It was FOE’s chance to respond and they decided to put the ball in the hands of an unlikely hero. With Marcus Morris inbounding from a little below half court, his University of Kansas teammate Mario Little flashed hard from the low block up into the high post area. Immediately after the catch, Little gave a quick up fake and made his way to the basket for a sweeping layup as time expired.

After winning, their third round game on, FOE advanced to the championship round. Day 4 of the playoffs featured Chuck Ellis Workouts squaring off against South Philly in a semifinal matchup. Despite an abundance of talent on the Chuck Ellis Workouts roster including Hakim Warrick, Ronald “Flip” Murray; South Philly didn’t back down one inch, which is indicative to that part of town.

Chuck Ellis fought an uphill battle the entire game and even when they managed to piece together a run, Rasual Butler would hit a timely three to quiet the storm. Needless to say, SP took the victory 100-96, advancing to a championship bout against FOE.

Anticipation was through the roof heading into the championship round as Dion Waiters suited up to represent his South Philadelphia squad. The first half of this game was a show as both teams traded a barrage of three pointers right out of the gate.

Once the triples stopped falling for South Philly the advantage immediately shifted to FOE Former Kansas point guard Tyshawn Taylor and backcourt mate Maalik Wayns pushed the pace, making the game seemingly uncomfortable for South Philly.

The long misses led to fast breaks or outlet passes to one of the twins for either a dunk or three in transition. By halftime the lead was 14 and FOE never looked back; cruising to their second Rumph League championship in the past three years.

Kenneth St. George is a freelance writer from Philadelphia who also coaches an AAU Team named Team Philly. Apart from SLAM, St. George runs his own blog, Hardwood Herald. Follow him on Twitter @KSG22_ and Instagram @KSG22_.

Photos courtesy of Chris Bowens.

The post FOE Dynasty appeared first on SLAM.

H/T: Ballislife

Related:
Seattle Pro-Am vs. Drew League Set for August 28
Zach LaVine, Isaiah Thomas, Jamal Crawford Show Out at Seattle Pro-Am

The post Jamal Crawford Dishes Out 19 Dimes at Seattle Pro-Am (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

Prepare for even more heat on August 28—Seattle Pro-Am and the Drew League will compete in the ultimate summer battle.

Related:
DeMar DeRozan Dunks Over James Harden at Drew League (VIDEO)
James Harden Vs Klay Thompson at The Drew League (VIDEO)
Nick Young Hits Game-Winning Three in Double OT at Drew League (VIDEO)

The post James Harden Battles Nick Young at Drew League Championship (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

H/T: Ballislife

The post Zach LaVine Shows Out at Seattle Pro-Am Dunk Contest (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

A night after scoring 49 points and hitting the buzzer-beating three-pointer for the win, Zach LaVine kept up the momentum at the Seattle Pro-Am.

He threw down a self alley-oop from the free-throw line (instead of actually shooting the free throw) and allegedly dropped 51 points on the game.

The post Zach LaVine Throws Free Throw Off Glass For Dunk (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

Don't let the grey hair fool you. @CuttinosLife still has game. He did his thing with LAUNFD on Sunday. #OldMoney https://t.co/NlbPZOMjKP

— Drew League (@DrewLeague) July 23, 2015

At 39-years-old, Cuttino Mobley is still doing work in the Drew League. Mobley spent the best years of his NBA career with the Houston Rockets and posted career numbers of 16.0 points and 3.9 rebounds a game.

He retired from the game back in 2009 due to a heart issue known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but clearly the man has not lost his touch.

The post WATCH: Grey-Haired Cuttino Mobley Still Balling In The Drew League appeared first on SLAM.

Check out the video above to see what kind of crazy moves the two-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year has been showing off this summer.

The post Jamal Crawford Dominating In Seattle Pro-Am (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

At 39 years old, Williams still possesses that flashy style, as he left some ankles broken and threw some crazy no-look passes in this recent pro-am game.

Stay tuned as we’ve got more on J-Will coming soon from our Throwback Issue.

Related
Jason Williams is Still Awesome at 38 Years Old (VIDEO)
Jason Williams Puts on a Show at Orlando Pro-Am (VIDEO)

The post 39-Year-Old Jason Williams Balling at Pro-Am Game (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM is happy to announce a one-day tournament, The Blue Chips Classic, that we will be sponsoring with giveaways, coverage, etc.

See below for details from our man Kwame Thompson:

The Blue Chips Classic will be held at “40th Park” on Foster Avenue in Brooklyn on Saturday, July 11.

 

4 team tournament (each team will play two games).

 

21 and under tournament. (With 10 player roster).

 

1st & 2nd half will be 20 minutes each. (No running time)

 

Team 1 will play Team 4 and Team 2 will play Team 3. Both losers will play a constellation game and the championship game will follow.

 

First game at 12 pm, second game at 2 pm, consolation game at 4 pm and the Championship game at 6.

 

30 minutes between each game.

 

Every team receives t-shirts with tournament name bearing on the front and player’s numbers on back. (Will be distributed on game day)

 

Every participant will receive sports book bag with gifts inside.

 

A 1st Place Team trophy and an MVP trophy will be given out. (Customized MVP trophy along with player’s stats engraved will be given).

 

The 1st Place Team will receive trophy, sports book bag with extra gifts and special offers inside.

 

Teams cost to participate is $300. Each team’s entry fee has to be paid in full by June 30th. (Fee covers referee fees for each team’s games).

 

A live DJ will be present for entertainment throughout the day.

 

A photographer will be present taking player and team pictures as well as live game photos.

 

For more info contact Mr. Thompson at (347) 219-0848

The post Blue Chips Classic Coming To Brooklyn July 11 appeared first on SLAM.

And even though it’s obvious that he’s no longer the same electrifying player that he once was, Jason Williams’ trash-talking remains on point:

”I ain’t travel since I was six years old,” Williams yelled back at a heckler.

(H/T: TBL)

The post Jason Williams is Still Awesome at 38 Years Old (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

Dexter Gardiner was born and raised in the Bronx. He grew up playing basketball at St. James Park, which is where he now holds the annual Gardiner Memorial Basketball Classic. He is also the founder of the Gardiner Foundation, which he started back in 2006. Gardiner launched the foundation after a series of tragic events occurred: he lost his mother in January of that year, and then lost his sister to cancer about five months later. When his twin brother, Derrick, drove up from Mississippi for the memorial, he crashed in the Bronx River Parkway and died, along with his niece and two nephews.

It would have been easy for Gardiner to give up on everything after going through such a tragedy, but he decided to do the exact opposite. Gardiner began to give back to his community, to show the children of the neighborhood that there are options other than just the street life, and that giving up should never be an option. During the first two years of the tournament, Gardiner paid for it himself, but then a man by the name of Jeff Korek, a lawyer from Brooklyn who now resides in Scarsdale, saw what Gardiner was doing and wanted to support the cause.

Korek and Gardiner met while playing in a Westchester County basketball league together, and have been working together for many years now. Every year the event gets bigger and bigger. This year was the 9th annual tournament, and it was obvious that Gardiner and Korek’s work has brought this community together in so many ways. Aside from the actual tournament, Gardiner presents opportunities for children throughout the neighborhood to showcase their different talents, which include singing to dancing. He held a segment that allowed local kids to play in a 14-and-under game, while also hosting raffles and giveaways for the children in attendance, and even gave out new book bags and school supplies for the kids in the park. Four teenagers were presented with college scholarships to institutions such as the Borough of Manhattan Community College and University of Bridgeport. “My part is just a little part of teaching them life skills,” says Gardiner. Additionally, thanks to a relentless fundraising effort by Dexter and and Korek, there will be a new soccer field installed at St. James Park and all of its basketball courts will be renovated.

The quality of competition in the tournament was also as impressive as the other facets of the event. The games featured an array of talented streetballers who put on a show for the crowd, all while maintaining a high level of competitiveness. The championship game saw the Red Team, led by Korek, his oldest son and a few local neighborhood players, such as Bronx high school prospect Jaquan McKennon. They went up against the Yellow Team, whose squad included AND1 streetball legends  “The Pharmacist” and “High Octane.” Ultimately, it was the Yellow Team that came away victorious, with “The Pharmacist” taking home tournament MVP honors.

“Building a family, you’re building a better community. Build a better community, you build a better city. Build a better city, you build a better state. Build a better state, you build a better country. Build a better country, you build a better world.” These words are one of the many sayings that Gardiner’s likes to live by. It gives him the drive needed to keep pressing forward and show the neighborhood that life doesn’t always have a dead end, and that they should continue persevering regardless of the circumstances. He wants all to understand that “we are our brother’s keeper,” which is the motto of the foundation and words that read on the backs of all the tournament shirts.

The main vision of Korek and Gardiner is simply to  better everyone around them, as well as send a positive message to the children. “Community service. If you’re going to high school, college, law school, medical school, whatever you’re going to do in life, you have to make community service a part of your life,” says Korek. He hopes the youth take note of what Gardiner and his family have done and follow in their path. Gardiner stressed to attendees that anything is possible for someone who has the proper work ethic, an advise he exemplifies every year with his tournament. He wants his Kingsbridge community to understand that basketball does not have to be a kid’s only way to success — even advising the youngsters in attendance to watch the Lenny Cooke documentary on multiple occasions during the weekend. When all is said and done, Gardiner simply wants to make sure that he has, “put [his] foot in to try and make this world a better world.” And that’s exactly what he did that weekend.

The post 2014 Gardiner Foundation Classic Recap appeared first on SLAM.

They were joined by the likes of Ben Gordon, Damarcus Croaker, Courtney Lee, Darius Washington Jr, Patrick Ewing Jr and many more.

The post Marcin Gortat and Austin Rivers Hoop in Orlando Pro-Am (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

If not for the ageless Jamal Crawford, Sixers guard Tony Wroten might be the Seattle Pro-Am’s most exciting player. The summer, the Seattle native brought out a devastating shammgod crossover, an acrobatic 360 layup, countless over-the-shoulder dimes and even posted up a 53-point performance.

(H/T BallisLife)

The post Tony Wroten Seattle Pro-Am Highlights (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

(H/T: Ballislife)

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Andre Barrett
Age: 32
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 180 lbs
HS: Rice
College: Seton Hall
Interesting Fact: Barrett was averaged 32.4 minutes per game as a freshman and started all 31 games. Inducted into the Seton Hall of Fame.

Justin Burrell
Age: 26
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Height: 6 foot 8
Weight: 244 lbs
HS: Bridgton Academy
College: St. John’s
Overseas: Japan and France
Interesting Fact: Chose to play at St. John’s because he loves to play in MSG.

Keydren Clark
Age: 29
Hometown: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Height: 5’11 “
Weight: 185 lbs
HS: Rice
College: Saint Peter’s
Overseas: Italy
Interesting Fact: 7th all time in NCAA scoring history. All time leading scorer in New Jersey history.

Corey Fisher
Age: 26
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 200 lbs
HS: St. Patrick
College: Villanova
Oversears: Russia
Interesting Fact: Dubbed the “playground legend” after a 105 point summer league game.

Vernon Goodrich
Age: 30
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
HS: Lutheran Christian Academy
College: Mississippi State, La Salle
Overseas: Turkey, Israel, Spain
Interesting: Was the 5th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Development League Draft by the Springfield Armor.

Mike Haynes
Age: 33
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 220 lbs
HS: Millersburg Academy
College: Fordham
Overseas: Israel, Spain, Germany, France, Belgium, Korea, Poland
Interesting Fact: Played basketball in more countries than states in US.

Quinton Hosley
Age: 30
Hometown: Harlem
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 215 lbs
HS: Abraham Lincoln
College: Fresno State
Overseas: Italy
Interesting Fact: Father, mother and Quinton all one championships at Rucker Park.

Dahntay Jones
Age: 33
Hometown: Trenton, NJ
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 225lbs
HS: Steinert
College: Duke
NBA: Indiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks
Interesting Fact: Cousin of NBA player Al Harrington.

Allan Sheppard
Age: 29
Hometown: Harlem
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 212 lbs
HS: Philip Randolp
College: St. Francis
Overseas: Iceland, Ecuador, Chile
Interesting Fact: Led New York City in scoring in High School.

Royal Ivey
Age: 32
Hometown: Harlem
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 200 lbs
HS: Benjamin Cardozo High School/Blair Academy
College: Texas
National Basketball Association
Interesting Fact: During the NBA Lockout in 2011, Royal Ivey returned to the University of Texas to finish his Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Learning and Development.

Curtis Kelly
Age: 26
Hometown: The Bronx
Height: 6’8”
Weight: 245 lbs
HS: Rice
College: Kansas State
Overseas: Italy
Interesting Fact: Named the New York Post and New York Daily News Player of the Year as a senior in High School.

Coach Artie Green
Age: 48
Hometown: Peekskill, MY
HS: Stevens
College: City College of Fresno
Places coached: Kipps Bay Boys and Girls Club, NY Ravens, NYC JAM ABA, Team New York
Interesting Fact: Won a championship in Las Vegas with the NY Ravens

The post Team NYC Roster for Nike World Basketball Festival TOC Announced appeared first on SLAM.

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The post Austin Rivers Drops 42 Points in Orlando Pro-Am (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

(H/T: Ballislife)

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Re: Anthony Bennett pulled from Toronto pro-am by agent…If anyone would know a Love trade nears, it's Jeff Schwartz, who reps both players

— Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) July 30, 2014

Anthony Bennett had been one of many Canadian basketball players participating in the second annual OVO Bounce tournament this week in Toronto. He played on Monday in the pro-am and he started playing again on Tuesday. Nothing seemed noteworthy, just the slimmed-down and finally-breathing 21-year-old Cleveland Cavalier playing in front of some fans.

 

But according to various reports, he was then oddly pulled out early tonight and lounged around at the tournament. The move was reportedly made by Bennett’s agent and he will not play the rest of the event.

The post Report: Anthony Bennett Pulled from Pro-Am Due to Possible Trade appeared first on SLAM.

A popular street basketball player died Thursday after tweeting “Thank God for another day alive” the day before.

 

James “Stixx” Williams, 34, of Brooklyn, died after suffering a heart attack during a game at Nike Pro City at Baruch College, the league said. Williams was married with two children.

 

“He was a fun-loving, warm kind of guy,” said Williams’ coach with the team Queensbridge, Lou Garnes. “He was a committed guy to the game of basketball, he loved the game of basketball and he was an all-around good guy.”

 

According to eyewitness accounts, Williams collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. A Nike Pro City certified trainer and a firefighter in attendance administered CPR, but he died on the way to a local hospital.

 

Williams was popular on the city’s streetball circuit, playing in a variety of leagues. Friends, former teammates and opponents — including NBA players Taj Gibson and Kemba Walker — took to Twitter and Instagram to express their grief.

The post NYC Mourns Death of Streetballer James “Stixx” Williams, Who Collapsed During Game appeared first on SLAM.

The post Zach LaVine Throws Down Huge Dunks at Seattle Pro-Am (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

(H/T: Ballislife)

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(H/T: Ballislife)

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The Orlando Magic’s Aaron Gordon had defenders looking confused at the San Francisco Pro Am. Check out the 6-8 rookie-to-be dropping dimes and collecting some broken ankles above.

The post Aaron Gordon Shows Out at San Francisco Pro Am (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

(H/T: Hoop Mixtape)

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(H/T: HoopMixtape)

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That’s the idea behind The Basketball Tournament, a 32-team, open event coming to Philly on Thursday, June 6. A ton of current and former players like Hakim Warrick, Josh Selby, Josh Boone, Rashad McCants, Aquille Carr and Marshall Henderson have committed to play.

Organizer Jonathan Mugar said The Tournament, which is open to any US citizen over the age of 18, was born out of a simple idea: What if you took everything great about March Madness and opened it up to everyone?

He pictured an everyman’s March Madness, but the response from elite players was even greater than he expected.

Around 150 teams registered, and in addition to the names mentioned above, a group of players from the 2009 Villanova Final Four squad formed a team. So did a group of former players from the legendary St. Anthony’s High School in New Jersey, and a group from the 2010 Cornell team that crashed the Sweet 16.

The Cornell squad had particular significance to Mugar, because they were exactly the type of team that had inspired him to create The Tournament.

Mugar read an article in the New York Times in 2011 about how several players from that Big Red squad, which upset Temple and Wisconsin before falling to top-seeded Kentucky in the Sweet 16, had stayed together, balling at the New York Athletic Club in the city.

“We talked about wanting to go back and seeing how far we’d make it,” 2010 Ivy League Player of the Year Ryan Wittman told The Times. “I think you are always going to miss it when you watch the NCAA tournament. It brought back a lot of good memories.”

The article sparked Mugar’s interest.

“That was a huge shot in the arm,” he said. “I always had that team in the back of my mind, and when they said they wanted another shot in the tournament, I thought, this could be it.”

So he pitched his idea to a Boston investment firm, which put up the $500,000 prize money. His buddy Dan Friehl, who works as an attorney in New Orleans, took a few months off to help administer the event.

The duo set off to alert ballers everywhere with just a $1,000 advertising budget.

“The entire process took about three years,” Mugar said. Now, the event is set to go on June 6—as 32 teams will play down to the final two over the course of three days at the Gallagher Center on the campus of Philadelphia University.

The finals will be contested on June 28, and fans will vote on which team gets to host. In fact, the social media component is a huge part of this tournament—24 of the 32 teams in the field were selected based on their total number of “fans,” which are recruited by teams through the TBT website. The other eight were chosen by the TBT itself.

Entry for players is free, but even though 150 teams registered, only the 24 with the highest following make the cut. It’s a strategy Mugar is hoping will bring more attention to the event.

So far, it’s worked—as the tournament has seen pub on various media outlets and of course, here with SLAM. Mugar said he envisions the tournament being streamed live in the future, and said the business model is like that of any other professional sporting event.

“We want to create a massive summer event, something that people can look forward to,” Mugar said.

So far, it’s a success.

Kels Dayton is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in SLAM 162. He writes a weekly column on the Most Improved Players in the NBA for SheridanHoops.com. He also serves as the Executive Producer of Sportzedge.com, which covers UConn basketball among all things Connecticut sports.

The post March Madness For All appeared first on SLAM.

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