The 2011 NBA lockout saw loads of NBA players take to alternative courts for their balling. The most famous excursion into street hoops was Kevin Durant, who dropped 66 at New York's world famous Rucker Park.
But mostly lost to the seas of time and media was this gem. Brandon Jennings and DeMar DeRozan visited New York's Dyckman Park.
They were joined by fellow NBA players (I heard Walker's name dropped but haven't been able to confirm Kemba's presence), and California-based rapper The Game (why was the Game there? "Cause he's been playing since he was 2" guys. Since he was 2!)
On this particular night, in this particular video, they found themselves pitted against a collection of East Coast street ballers, most notably Adris Deleon, aka 2 Hard 2 Guard.
And Deleon had something to prove.
But mostly lost to the seas of time and media was this gem. Brandon Jennings and DeMar DeRozan visited New York's Dyckman Park.
They were joined by fellow NBA players (I heard Walker's name dropped but haven't been able to confirm Kemba's presence), and California-based rapper The Game (why was the Game there? "Cause he's been playing since he was 2" guys. Since he was 2!)
On this particular night, in this particular video, they found themselves pitted against a collection of East Coast street ballers, most notably Adris Deleon, aka 2 Hard 2 Guard.
And Deleon had something to prove.
Jennings and Deleon had apparently been engaged in a Twitter feud, the chosen battleground for half-baked quips and blind shit talking. And this was Deleon's chance to show up his more prominent foe.
But Jennings is an NBA player and a decent one at that. The two traded baskets and the spotlight, both earning the oohs and aahs of the assembled masses.
For a while, Jennings got the better of Deleon.
(I'm being kind, Jennings dribbled it off Deleon's head. That's embarrassing.)
But Deleon comes right back. He drops gorgeous jumpers over Jennings. He drives the lane and hits whirling dervish lay-ups. He throws imposing stares.
The video ends with Deleon and Jennings going one-on-one while an imposing crowd of onlookers continues to encroach on their playing space. We get to see Deleon win the ball, right before a whistle is blown. Presumably a foul.
Here's the thing to remember: Deleon is talented. You can see that in the video. He's a wizard with the basketball, has a great step and some creative finishing moves, and is capable of sometimes passing the ball/playing defense (I think).
But the guy couldn't cut it at higher level play (the story of most street legends). His college career consisted of two seasons of play at (the esteemed) Eastern Washington. He played in 48 games and averaged 9.5 points for his career. He went undrafted in 2009 and found himself playing in leagues across the globe. In 2011 he was a streetballer with a Brandon Jennings vendetta.
The last prominent mention of the guy was in 2012-2013 when he won the Sixth Man Award in the NBL (Australia's National Basketball League).
This is the stuff folk heroes are made of though. And we can all learn something from Adris Deleon. When life dribbles a ball off your head, come right back at it, cross it up, and finish at the rim.
I'm not great at analogies.----CM
But Jennings is an NBA player and a decent one at that. The two traded baskets and the spotlight, both earning the oohs and aahs of the assembled masses.
For a while, Jennings got the better of Deleon.
(I'm being kind, Jennings dribbled it off Deleon's head. That's embarrassing.)
But Deleon comes right back. He drops gorgeous jumpers over Jennings. He drives the lane and hits whirling dervish lay-ups. He throws imposing stares.
The video ends with Deleon and Jennings going one-on-one while an imposing crowd of onlookers continues to encroach on their playing space. We get to see Deleon win the ball, right before a whistle is blown. Presumably a foul.
Here's the thing to remember: Deleon is talented. You can see that in the video. He's a wizard with the basketball, has a great step and some creative finishing moves, and is capable of sometimes passing the ball/playing defense (I think).
But the guy couldn't cut it at higher level play (the story of most street legends). His college career consisted of two seasons of play at (the esteemed) Eastern Washington. He played in 48 games and averaged 9.5 points for his career. He went undrafted in 2009 and found himself playing in leagues across the globe. In 2011 he was a streetballer with a Brandon Jennings vendetta.
The last prominent mention of the guy was in 2012-2013 when he won the Sixth Man Award in the NBL (Australia's National Basketball League).
This is the stuff folk heroes are made of though. And we can all learn something from Adris Deleon. When life dribbles a ball off your head, come right back at it, cross it up, and finish at the rim.
I'm not great at analogies.----CM