Last we checked, the Dallas Mavericks upset the Miami Heat and everyone was happy in the basketball world. The NBA is coming off of a monumental year with ratings and popularity, and star power is at an all-time high. However, as happy as basketball junkies have been with their sport of preference, there’s been a looming cloud over the NBA with a potential lockout on our hands.
On Wednesday there was a break in the clouds, only metaphorically speaking of course. Steve Nash held his fourth annual charity soccer game in New York City, and several household NBA names participated in the event. Aside from Nash and Tony Parker – who were mobbed with questions about recent trade rumors - former teammates Leandro Barbosa and Raja Bell, and current teammates Jared Dudley and Marcin Gortat showed off their agility on the pitch. But aside from seeing Gortat play a so-so goalie, and Jared Dudley flop on a chest dive after an impressive goal, IamaGM had the privilege of spending some time with a few significant basketball personalities.
Young Buck is Back and Ready to Win
We start with the new-school. Fresh off of a trip to India to help globalize not just the NBA, but the sport of basketball, Brandon Jennings put on a pair of cleats to show his love for Steve Nash. While Jennings looked a bit more impressive playing soccer than he did playing cricket in India, Jennings spoke highly of the week he spent on the real East Coast.
“Ah man, it was great. To be able to help the game grow globally is real cool.” Jennings said that Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson are the two most popular basketball players in India, with their more relatable size playing a key factor. “I went over there and showed them that you don’t have to be 7-feet tall to be a good basketball player.”
Jennings scoring average may have gone up this season, but he is coming off of a disappointing season for not just himself, but his team as well. “We really struggled this year, and me not being out there definitely played a part in that.” Jennings missed 19 games with a broken foot in his sophomore campaign, and the Bucks won 11 less games this past season than they did in 2009-2010. Jennings said that he likes playing in Milwaukee and that he and his team “expect to make the playoffs next season.”
Age and Adversity have nothing on Patience and Professionalism
While Brandon Jennings’ NBA stock is rising, Grant Hill’s sitting on a stock that was red hot, and then ice cold, but at the tender age of 38 is as solid as any role player in the NBA. Coming off of his third straight season of playing at least 80 games, Hill played in his teammates charity soccer game as well, and even admitted that soccer was his “first love.”
Hill, although a bit tall, looked like a natural on the soccer field, and spoke like a true professional off of it, even about the previously mentioned clouds. “I’ve been through a lockout…you know at some point it’ll get handled.” Hill, who serves as a mentor to plenty of his teammates, is just telling everyone to remain patient. “It’ll get done…it’ll happen.”
The lockout is approaching at a funny time for Hill as he’s an unrestricted free agent this summer. “When I came to Phoenix back in 2007 I thought maybe I had a couple of years left in me,” Hill said of how surprised he is by how good his body feels. He will be 39 before the start of the 2011-2012 season, but isn’t worried about his future. “I’m having a good time in Phoenix, I’m just focused on staying in shape and doing everything right.”
Hill addressed not just the lockout and his free agency, but reiterated his stance on tolerance towards homosexuality, and spoke further about his relationship with Doc Rivers. “You know his name is Doc, but he isn’t a Doctor,” Hill said jokingly. Grant spoke angrily about his tenure with the Magic, whom Rivers coached for four of Hill’s six seasons, just a couple of months ago. It was the first time that he had expressed anger over the fact that he spent so much time on the Injured Reserve, and felt he was completely mismanaged by the Magic. “I’m still really close with Doc, I’ve been working out with his son, Austin, who’s going to Duke.” Hill also works out with Rivers other son, Jeremiah, who completed his senior season at Indiana in the spring.
From Dominating the Court to Dominating the Camera
While one Duke great was able to overcome serious injury, current ESPN college basketball analyst and 2002 Naismith Award winner Jay Williams was watching the soccer game from the sidelines. “I almost went to Rutgers for soccer,” said the second overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft. Williams was at a loss for words when asked about Grant Hill’s durability, but cited Hill as the most intriguing player for him to watch out for during the game Wednesday.
Williams was in high spirits, and even spoke excitedly when asked if he ever thinks of making another run at the NBA. “You know, if it were two games a week I might have a chance,” Williams said with a sense that he was holding back emotion. “My body just can’t take the wear and tear of the season.” “Although,” Williams being the ultimate competitor ended the conversation by saying ,“I might’ve been able to offer the Heat more than Mike Bibby did.”
Despite the rain storm that came during the second half of the game, it was a good day for soccer, and an even better day for basketball. Hopefully those won’t be too hard to come by in the near future.
