HoopsHype.com NBA Blogs - Seth Ferranti

Thug life. Prison ball. Going hard. That’s what being in the netherworld of corruption and violence is about. Dudes can fake about that Lexus they had on the street but they can’t fake about their b-ball game. Either they got one or not. In the pen you can’t front on the court because if you do you will get exposed.  And don’t get it twisted. Different joints got different styles of play. Some go harder than others. And one of the hardest joints in the nation was Lorton Penitentiary, the DC jail. Everything was notched up a couple of levels there – the violence, the corruption and the basketball. Let’s take a look back at what they called Lorton Ball.

“As you know, there are different levels of ballers in prison,” says Lorton legend and prison hoops expert Purple. “The level I played on was the cream of the crop. At this level it was very intense, extremely competitive with gifted athletes relentlessly going at each other. Then they had what they called Lorton Ball, which was just about anything goes. There were hard fouls on every play. But this kind of ball was based on men’s own insecurities, shortcomings and misconceptions about manhood. They thought that by them being in jail, they had to maintain a certain tough. I don’t go for nothing image. Not understanding that that barbaric style of ball took away from the beauty and artistry of the most magnificent game ever created.”

And maybe it can’t be broken down more specifically than that. But still in the pen dudes are going hard.

“It was dangerous because convicts ran the joint,” Purple says. “Also the majority of the dudes had some astronomical sentences so there was generally a pervasive attitude of don’t go for nothing and fuck the world. Then DC is a very small enclave and everyone at Lorton was from DC, both inmates and correctional officers. So beefs that may have started in the streets were carried over and it was no way to duck the drama. I’ve seen wars break out and the law just stand back and watch. I’ve seen the C/O’s get robbed at knifepoint and they even pulled a dead C/O out of a manhole. But there is a universal law that applies all around the world. If you are a real man in every sense of the word, then man recognizes man and respect is instantly established and reciprocated.”

On the court and on the pound.

But to understand the Lorton ethos you have to understand the environment.

“In terms of quality of life compared to other joints, Lorton was a five-star resort,” Purple says. “We had everything that people had in the streets except freedom of movement. You could get as many food packages as your people could afford to send. We wore street clothes. Any drug you can think of was always readily available and we had visits seven days a week. So if a dude just had to do some time, this is where he wanted to do it because there is no other joint in the country like Lorton.”

And for prison basketball superstars like Purple life was sweet.

“We wore street clothes so dudes were walking around in alligator shoes, Hugo Boss jeans and one dude even had a full-length white Mink coat. Don’t forget we were doing time. We had visits seven days a week and if you were in the loop, you had the opportunity to have sex with your woman seven days a week. It wasn’t nothing for a dude to be walking around the Hill with two or three thousand in his pocket. I remember a shakedown where the law found 48 grand in the ceiling. Now, this isn’t no hearsay that I’m passing on. This some stuff seen with my own eyes. So you can sort of imagine how life was for the baddest baller in this little project where b-ball was everything. I’ve had dudes pay me hundreds of dollars to play for their dorm. Games that I was part of have had as much as five G’s betted on them. There were all kinds of bets being wagered on intramural games. I know because I got a G for winning a game against the Madness shop team. Then before I came to the Hill there was this guy Arrilias Gregg, who was the incumbent King of the Hill. His man MF wanted to bet my man MB 5 G’s on a best two out of three one-on-one, but Gregg always came up with an excuse to duck the rec because he knew in his heart that he really couldn’t get in my business no matter how hard he tried to make everyone else think that he could. He just couldn’t bring himself to accept the responsibility of losing MF’s money.”

And a lot of money was won and lost on b-ball behind Lorton’s wall. But a lot of heads were busted too.

“I pretty much came up like any other underprivileged kid in SE Washington,” Purple says. “Single-parent household where mom raised five of us on her meager salary. The only difference was that I had a thirst for knowledge and big dreams. However, there is a degree of truth to man being a product of his environment. Because going to that Catholic school was my opportunity to rise above my situation and circumstances. But I would always run back to the hood seeking admiration and acceptance of dudes that I looked up to, dudes that didn’t mean me any good, dudes that I looked up to because of the misconceptions of manhood that were passed down to me in the hood because there was no man in my household to teach me how to be a real man. So I made a lot of bad decisions under the impression that they were good ones because they were derived from a faulty belief system.”

So the dude that once blocked a dude’s shot and busted his chin on the backboard and the dude that once scored 47 in a game that he played entirely with his left hand didn’t make the league because he bought into the Lorton Ball mentality before he was even incarcerated.

It’s sad but it’s a fact and circumstance that happens everyday in the inner city. As they say, if it ain’t rough it ain’t right. And you got to pay the cost to be the boss. In the hood and in prison it’s about intimidation and a false sense of respect that derives from the streets and the dog-eat-dog culture.

Purple’s seen plenty of stories like his where bad decisions robbed talented youngsters of the chance to show their skills to the world.

“There was this guy named Rock who played at Springarn who is the best ballhandler that I’ve ever seen,” Purple says. “He taught me how to dribble. I became fundamentally sound at St. Anthony’s High, but the raw essence of my game was honed on the playgrounds of DC. Coming up there were two dudes I idolized. My brother Jose and a cat named Stacy Robinson who could flat out do the damn thing. Both should have unquestionably played in the NBA, but both became victims of the drug game. Stacy had over 60 Division 1 scholarship offers. To this day Digger Phelps still talks about him. He’s the baddest dude I ever played against. But so was Terry Tibbs. Coincidently they both are Dunbar alumni. I have played against and with other dudes that could flat out do it. Like George “Snowball” Minnit, Curt Smith, Greg Jones, Arrilias Greg and Randolph “Machinegun” Milan.”

And understandably all of these dudes are legends in their own right. Forged in the cauldron of the hood and the belly of the beast.

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They call him Maine. The kid from Harlem. He goes hard on the court. His game is like that. He makes it look effortless. Driving and slicing to the rim. The kid got moves. Did I say his game was like that? Well, I’ll say it again. The dude is for real. He got that New York handle – behind the back, through the legs, in traffic and all. Dude can ball. But let him tell it.

“I really love the game,” Jermaine White says. “I’m from Harlem, 115th and 8th Avenue, born and raised. My weight is 190. I stand 6-foot-l. Strong as well as physical.”

And dude ain’t telling no lies. The 29-year-old knifes to the rim, through the hacks, through the dudes hanging on his back, through the dudes trying to stop him. He makes it look graceful but at the same time he has a soldier’s mentality. It’s not all games with Maine. He’s going for the jugular.

“A challenge is a must,” Maine says. “So mentally I want war, I go hard so you’ll come with your A-game. If not, I’ll expose you. Then it’s too late cause you’re trying to respond to an ongoing attack. Especially when you’ve tried everything and I still do me. You’re mentally finished, dead.”

The kid backs it up on the court. Dude is a soldier. On the court and in life. He’s doing 125 months in the feds. Maine was on some gangsta shit for real.

“I’m incarcerated for armed bank robbery. I came to the feds in 2001. I’ve been to two FCI’s so far (Schuylkill and Loretto),” Maine says.

And he was doing his thing in the street too.

“As far as that goes, I played for Brandeis High School (92-95) and streetball in hood tourneys like GOAT, King-dome, Ray Diaz, Youngworld, Dyckman, etcetera. Out of town tournaments too.”

Maine is no stranger to winning

“As for chips, high school and local and out of town tourneys… About 15 total. A couple of sportsmanship awards, MVP one year.”

The list of accolades goes on. Maine is an accomplished player. And he remembers the first time he balled in jail.

“The first time I played ball inside I was ready to fight. Fouls were crazy,” Maine says. “People try to scare you with them. Also it’s a way to get cheap shots cause niggas is really trying to feel you out. Playing in here is different cause it’s more so strength than finesse. To me, I’m trying to kill you, inside and out in the world. Also people stacking teams. I don’t care who I’m teamed with, I’m going to win.”

Dude backs this up. Ain’t no fronting going on, but Maine keeps it real too.

“Sometimes shit gets outta control,” Maine says. “When it does, you punish the person and things calm down. This is a mental sport so feelings will always play a part. Honestly, people know who to foul all crazy. I don’t worry because I’m respected. I have no problem taking my respect either.”

Because sometimes in the joint that is what it takes. But before prison Maine had hoop dreams.

“Growing up in New York it was my dream to play in the league,” he says. “But right after high school, I got hit by two cars and my dreams were shattered.  Then going to the Island didn’t help either. I believe I could’ve played on the next level easily.”

Maine loves the league too.

“I love players I can relate too – Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups, Carmelo Anthony, A.I. But I’m a true Knicks fan. I pattern my game after Chauncey and Kidd. I can play from the 1 to the 3. I prefer 2 or 3. I like to go to the hole whether it’s in transition or a set offense. I’m going to score or create.”

And the kid has flash too but he says, “Believe it or not, I don’t play for the crowds. I’m not flashy. Just your basic killer. That’s why it doesn’t seem like my numbers are up. You will only know at the end of the game, after I’ve won and killed you. I’d rather have my 5 and your 5 go. No crowds. Just us 10.”

With an assassin’s mindset, Maine wants the ball in crunch time.

“When the game is at the closing seconds, give it to me. I’m going to  create a winning look at the rim,” he says. “I just want the best possible shot. From me or my teammate. I want the W.”

And basketball is a big part of Maine’s life.

“Growing up it was the major part. But now it’s a stress reliever. I can only watch it briefly cause I’ll want to play. I play with anybody, scrut and all. Since I’ve been in, I’ve played just about every season as well as tourneys and summer leagues. I used to play everyday but I’ve stopped cause the talent level isn’t how it once was.”

But still Maine can’t stop playing and here at FCI Loretto he’s one of the best to do it.

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Two players to look out for in the upcoming season. Dwight Howard and Luol Deng. Both of these young players are ready to break out and reach their potential. To become superstars and lead their teams to glory. They’ve put in their time, they’ve worked on their games and they’ve earned their props. But now it’s time to take it to the next level. Potential is one thing but desire is another. And if both these players desire to be the best then they can be. All the physical tools are there.

Dwight Howard, the man child, is ready to dominate. When Orlando took him over Emeka Okafor, a lot of people scoffed. Why take the raw potential over the finished product? But now four years in, you can see why. Okafor is a good player, but he can never reach the heights Howard can. He is the next great big man. He can have a Shaq or Duncan-like effect. When he gets it into his mind, he can be unstoppable. The evolution of this franchise center is unfolding right before our eyes. He gained valuable experience playing with the National Team and it is right to defer to Kobe, LeBron and Melo. But this season with the Magic he has to take over and be The Man. He has to want to put the Magic on his back and carry team. The man who teammates call Thunder is ready to slam the rock at will on any who dare to stand in his way. They robbed him at last year’s slam-dunk competition just because he’s big. But for a big guy he proved he can get up with all the high-flyers. The sticker dunk was awesome, but Michael Jordan and them didn’t want to give any props. It doesn’t matter because Howard is ready to take over.

The Chicago Bulls picked up Ben Wallace to push them over the top, but the player that really needs to step up for them to get to the championship is Luol Deng. The 6-foot-9 Deng averaged 18.8 points and 7.1 rebounds last year. But to reach the next level he needs to up those average and become the prime-time player he can be for his team to win it all. With his mid-range game and silky slashes to the hoop he should be able to do it. He must add the one-on-one ability that will enable him to create his own shot to really advance his game. If his offseason work paid off he should be unveiling those new one-on-one moves this year and prove he can be a crunch time player for Chicago. All the pieces are around him, but now he needs to step it up.

Both Howard and Deng are ready to take the next step in their careers. They both have to want it, though, because in the league if you don’t bring it every night then you might as well call it in. Because this is the NBA. The best athletes in the world. Hopefully, both these humble and personable players can step it up and become superstars. But they have to show that fire and have the will to be the best at what they do.

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“I go hard as hell,” says Larry “Lam” Jackson. The little dude who’s built like an NFL running back at 5-foot-8 and 190 pounds isn’t playing. The 34-year-old from Gary, Indiana is like a package of dynamite. His game is explosive and on the court he does whatever it takes to win despite any obstacles put in his way.

“I don’t do too much talking cause niggas be literally wanting to fight me. Nigga stay in their feelings and the crowd don’t make it any better. When I’m in kill mode, you’re dead,” Lam says.

And from what he’s been doing at FCI Loretto – killing the competition – the kid is not faking. He talks the talk and walks the walk, backing up all his words on the court.

Going to the rack, busting treys, posting up… Lam scores at will and reminds people of a similar bulldog-type point guard in the league who roughs it off on the regular.

“My game is more like Baron Davis. Can get it anywhere on the floor I want. My range is unlimited. What makes my game special is my will to win. I got that nobody can stop me attitude,” Lam says.

He proved it last Winter League (2007) taking the A-league title single handedly by dropping dazzling moves, forays into the paint and 30-point games in leading his team to the title.

“Ever since I’ve been down, I’ve played like that,” Lam says. “I’ve had so many moments like 41, 18 and 11 in a game, scoring 49 on the outside team. But the most recent championship was one of my best moments. Our whole starting frontline fouled out and we were left with only 4 players on the floor. We went into double overtime and I caught fire and we pulled the game off. The C/O told me that he been down 22 years and that’s the greatest performance he’s ever seen. I almost agree.”

Lam has been in the system a minute busting ass and taking names on the court.

“Been down nine years for conspiracy to deliver crack cocaine. I got 27 years,” Lam says. “I’ve been in FCI Greenville in Illinois and here at FCI Loretto in Pennsylvania.”

He has been doing his thing in the feds, shining on the court and on the pound.

“I’ve been on every varsity team that’s been assembled. Only lost two games in eight years against outside teams at FCI Greenville.”

Lam was like that on the street too.

“Played high school ball in Hammond, Indiana at Gauit High. I played one year at South Suburban Community College and two years at University of Dubuque in Iowa. I was all everything in college. I just got caught up in this dope game.”

He had dreams of the league too.

“Yeah, I wanted to play professional ball but size did play a factor. If not that, I was that nigga. My favorite player is Kobe Bryant. So you know I roll with the Lakers. I wish I could say I play like him but I’m more like Baron Davis.”

A miniature version of him at least. With the same bulldog mentality. And Lam knows in prison if it ain’t rough it ain’t right, so with his game he fits right in with all the roughnecks.

“Dudes take it to the next level in here,” He says. “Most fights start over basketball and the TVs. For real, when dudes get in they feelings it actually excites me so I go at them harder and whatever happens after that happens. Hopefully, niggas can just keep it on the court. If you will, I will. I respect everybody, except rats.”

That’s how it goes in the pen.

Lam remembers back to his first time balling in prison.

“My first experience was the same that it’s been on the street. I’m trying to show niggas that they ain’t got a chance in hell guarding me,” he says. “I ain’t gonna front. When I first went to FCI Greenville, them niggas had straight game.”

Because in prison that’s all dudes do. Play ball. Lam knows, he’s done it but he’s slowing down a little.

“I don’t rec as much as I used to because my hand was broken and it’s still healing but I still do the damn thing on game day. Since I’ve been down, I done seen some helluva players. Niggas go hard in the joint. Straight game.”

And Lam doesn’t get down with all the streetball antics.

“I’m from Indiana man and we don’t really get down with all that And1 stuff. All we know how to do is get buckets in bunches. I mean And1 is cool for the fans but what’s more embarrassing than having your opponent keep grabbing the ball out the net after you just killed him?”

You know when it’s crunch time Lam is gonna demand the ball.

“I have to have the ball when the game is on the line,” he says. “It’s not that I’m selfish but I truly believe I’m gonna do something positive with the rock. If we lose I’ll take the blame every time.”

Lam doesn’t do much losing, though. He is arguably the best player on the pound here at FCI Loretto. And he’s got the chip so dudes will have to see him. All challenges go through Lam.

The dude lives and breathes basketball. He’s the type of dude that stays down in the gym all day. Bullshitting with dudes, shooting, playing, watching.

“I’m an easygoing-type dude,” he says. “If I can’t get along with you, then something’s wrong. I watch some form of b-ball everyday. I don’t care if it’s the worst players in the world, I’m watching. I just love the art of the game.”

And here at FCI Loretto other prisoners love watching Lam’s art because for real, the kid is like that and the court is his canvass.

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The NBA is the image-conscious league. The players-must-dress-appropriately league. The no-violence-and-no-controversy league. But David Stern has it messed up. Controversy sells, violence sells. Look at the NHL. Do you honestly believe people are watching hockey for the game? They’re waiting for the fights to break out. Do you honestly think people are watching NASCAR to see who wins? No way, they’re waiting for someone to crash into the wall and take out all the other cars. That is what America wants. A spectacle, a travesty, high drama. And one of the reasons the NBA has been so successful is because of its hood icons. Like Allen Iverson, who has carried the torch since he entered the league, and now Carmelo Anthony, who is ready to take that title and run with  it into the future.

But first things first. Let’s not get it twisted. Both of those dudes can play. They are first-rate ballers. Superstars even. They both have mad  skills with the rock and on the court. But let’s keep it real. Both guys are from the hood and they represent the hood. Ain’t no faking it. And in the hood, if it ain’t rough it ain’t right. That’s why David Stern and the league have been cracking down with the suspensions. They don’t want a thug league. They don’t want a bunch of goons. And they are right. But when you get a baller with the skill of a Melo or AI, please just let them do their thing on the court and if they get a little wild off it, why criticize them like they are a presidential candidate?

The world needs to realize where these players came from and what they rose up out of. White, middle-class America has no idea. And don’t  get it wrong. White, middle-class America represent the largest percentage of NBA fans. But a lot of times the white middle-aged sportswriter who caters to the white, middle-class American fan denounces players like AI and Melo. They call them thugs, or hoodlums, or even criminals. But I ask you, what do these white, middle-aged sportswriters know about the hood and what it’s like to come up out of the gutter? Nada, zilch, nothing. The big zero. So in reality, they need to stop talking about something that they know nothing about.

The NBA needs its hood icons. No matter how much David Stern doesn’t want it, he needs to realize that the NBA is a hip-hop league. Its players  are from the ghettos of America and all they are doing is being themselves. The  should be commended for rising up out of their circumstances and taking advantage of the opportunities afforded them due to their basketball  skills. Because for every talented ball player that makes it there are probably three just as talented or more that didn’t make it. Those who fell to the lure and temptations of the streets and were either killed in those same streets or fell victim to the War on Drugs and are now doing time in federal penitentiary.

Players like AI and Carmelo who transcend their environment and make good in the league should be applauded instead of torn down and criticized at every opportunity. When will America learn? You can’t knock someone for being themselves. You can’t knock them for where they’re from. You can’t knock them for the color of their skin or how they grew up. America is supposed to be the land of opportunity, the land of the free. The American Dream of free enterprise, capitalism and rags-to-riches story form the foundations of what this country is supposed to stand for. Players in the league shouldn’t have to conform to white, middle-class America’s standards of what is wrong and what is right. Right is right and if you are on the side of virtue then it should all be good. And both AI and Melo are very righteous dudes. But they are also very loyal dudes. To their homies prior to entering the league and to their hoods.  And in the eyes of this writer, there is nothing wrong with that.

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Solid but not spectacular. Dependable but not a superstar. A finished product but no potential. A team player. A model of consistency. Sacrificing his personal game for the good of the team. Players that embody these ideals are a coach’s dream. In the me-first, get-me-the-money, what-have-you-done-for-me lately culture of the NBA when you find a player that harkens back to the blue-collar workhouse days of the past, it’s rare. In today’s league of shoe contracts, endorsement deals, high slamma-jamma, rap albums, break-your-ankle crossovers and three-point bomb barragerays (yes, I made that word up), it’s tough to find somebody to do the grunt work that every contender needs.

All great championship teams have them. The glue guy. The players who do the dirty work. The unselfish former college star who took a back seat to help the team flourish. ML Carr and Bill Walton of the Celtic teams, Bobby Jones of the Sixers, Kurt Rambis and Michael Cooper of the Lakers, Bill Laimbeer of the Pistons, Horace Grant and Dennis Rodman of the Bulls, Robert Horry and Derek Fisher of the Lakers, all the way up to Udonis Haslem of the Miami Heat last year and Bruce Bowen of the Spurs this year. Every team needs that special player who will do whatever he needs to do to help his team win – be it diving on the floor for the loose ball, laying wood in the lane, setting a hard pick, putting the opposing team’s best player on his ass, committing a decisive foul, roughing up the other team or being a locker room leader.

Guys who do this have been on every championship team. And players in the league who fit this category now are few and far between. But we recognize and here is our list of go-hard glue guys. Watch out for them next year to help make their teams contenders.

Shane Battier. The ultimate glue guy and a big reason the Rockets should make some noise next year. Battier exudes confidence, never backs down from any challenge and has mad heart. The dude is a winner through and through. He bleeds victories and his presence will help Houston and T-Mac finally get to the second round.

Udonis Haslem. Yes, we already shouted son out but this solid, dependable rebound machine does what he’s supposed to do – play defense and hit the open jumper. His game perfectly complements DWade’s and Shaq’s. Look for him to be a pivotal part of Miami’s revival next year.

Luke Walton. Who knows what will happen with the Lakers, but whatever they do they need Luke Walton. When he was hurt last year, they struggled. He is an intricate part of their team. If he has the right stars around, him he is an excellent complementary player who will do his part to help his team win. His court vision and sense of the game are phenomenal. He does exactly what he’s supposed to do at exactly the right time. He complements Kobe and if Kobe stays and they add an impact player the Lakers can compete. Like his dad, Luke is a tough customer and knows how to win.

David Lee. The third year Knick out of Florida belongs here. He’s proved that with his double-double average and breakout at last year’s frosh-soph game. Lee is a rugged, rough player in the mold of Bobby Jones and Dennis Rodman. He won’t give anybody an inch. He rebounds like a madman and gets his points off the glass. His improved play along with the acquisition of low-post threat Zach Randolph will be big reasons why the Knicks make the playoffs next year.

Raja Bell. Steve Nash is the director of the Suns orchestra, but Bell might be the heart and soul of the team. His relentless defense, slutch shooting and show of strength inspire confidence and admiration in his teammates.

Tayshaun Prince. This long, athletic defender always covers the opposition’s best offensive player be it Kobe or LeBron. He had an off series offensive-wise against Cleveland, but look for this tough player to bounce back with a stellar season and help Detroit to another strong year.

Matt Barnes. He was a critical piece in the Warriors miracle playoff run last season. It seemed he was always the one hitting the open three, grabbing the loose rebound or skying high for that board.

Eric Snow. The wiley veteran, the crafty point guard, the defensive stalwart. Snow helped the Cavs reach the Finals in so many little ways. His defense, his calmness under pressure, his leadership. What Snow lacks in offensive prowess he makes up in pure heart and desire.

These guys are not the stars nor will they ever be. But they are difference makers and next season they’ll be up to the task and helping to make their teams contenders.

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Dwyane who? Dirk what? Duncan why? KG where? Nash how? In the mighty, mighty world of the NBA, the league that boasts the world’s finest athletes, the debate can rage on forever. Who is the best? The most exciting? The most dominating? Ask a hundred people and you might get 50 different answers. But here we call it like it is. And we expose suckers for what they are – suckers. Not to say any of the above are suckers, but when it comes down to it the debate of who’s the best really centers on two players. Kobe vs. LeBron.

The Black Mamba vs. The Chosen One. The Assassin vs. The Prodigy. Could you imagine a one-on-one game between these two? Where is the video game? Remember the Larry Bird/Dr. J one? Well, LeBron vs. Kobe would kill that. These two would dominate (each other), gesticulate (wildly), articulate (each dunk), contemplate (each move) and pronunciate (each highflying trip to the rack). And for real there is no stopping either one. They can do whatever they want whenever they want. They are both really that good and really that exciting. Kobe with his 81-point explosions and LeBron with his Jordanesque playoff games and triple-double trouble. But the most important thing about them is their will to win and make the players around them better. And just like Mike, they are doing it.

LeBron took a ragtag group of castoffs to the Finals. Retreads like Damon Jones, stiffs like Zydrunas Ilgauskas and underachievers like Donyell Marshall. Kobe has been getting to the playoffs with undrafted dudes like Smush, busts like Kwame and projects like Bynum. Could these guys get a little help, please? I’m sure they both would be battling in the champion­ship if they had some help. LeBron seems like a mainstay in the East and now that Kobe wants to be traded who knows where he’ll wind up.

There’s always been players like Nash, who come along and elevate the play of their teammates (Russell, Magic, Stockton, Isiah, Bird). But to do it like Mike, you have to not only elevate your teammates games, but you have to dominate yourself – as in physically, mentally and spiritually – by infusing your will to win into your teammates while at the same time making an undeniable impression that you are indeed the best player and athlete on the court. No easy feat. That’s why there’s only been one Mike. But if anyone can duplicate what he did, the overall greatness in every aspect, it’ll be Kobe or LeBron.

Kobe at 28 and in Lakerland is getting fed up. He wants that championship solo with no Shaq. Kobe is too proud to ride someone’s coattails and claim it as his own. He wants to be the star and have a supporting cast tailor made for him – hence the trade demands. Where will he end up nobody knows. But hopefully with some players to make an impact and a run at the title. And LeBron at 22 is playing remarkable averaging 26 ppg and almost 7 rebounds and assists per game. He’ll probably never average a triple-double, but who since Oscar Robertson has? As long as the Cavs maintain their advantage in the weak East and place some shooters around LeBron like Boobie Gibson, King James will have his shot at a champ­ionship. Because just like Kobe, he can put a team on his shoulders and his team through a playoff series like he did against the Pistons. Remember we just witnessed it and never mind the Spurs shutting him down, they were clearly the superior team. LeBron needs help. But also like Mike, he needs to step it up a little more. No excuses.

Kobe has three rings, but they probably matter little to him because he knows in his heart he was just Shaq’s caddy. Think if Jordan came in and played with Bird or Magic, it just wouldn’t be the same as him doing it by himself with all dudes under him. Kobe never liked being Robin to Shaq’s Batman and LeBron has been solo since the jump with an assortment of second fiddles who never matched Pippen to his Jordan. Boobie Gibson is nice, but can he sustain that level of play for a whole year?

With Kobe making trade demands, his future is uncertain. But he knows Odom, Bynum, Farmar and Walton are not championship caliber teammates. Birth of these superstars must be surrounded by complementary players who can hit a shot. They need a Paxson, a Kerr, a Wennington. But also both of them need to take it upon themselves and make some of their teammates into those guys by inspiring confidence just like LeBron did with Boobie.

With Kobe and LeBron’s ability to get to the rack at will, take anyone off the dribble at anytime, play great defense and be the superstars that they are under intense pressure day in and day out, they are clearly the two best players in the league today. But as to who is the best, that is open to dis­cussion. For me, though, I’ll go with LeBron because he just led a similar Cavs team to the Finals while Kobe’s Lakers can’t get out of the first round.

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Slam Magazine called him the King of Cali streetball. And for real this dude has been doing it nationwide. The kid from California with the sick handle has played on the And1 tour, played against the best in the country every summer at UCLA as a Magic Johnson All Star, played in the CBA, NBA summer league and the NBDL. He’s shared the court with NBA players like Paul Pierce, Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, Sam Cassell and Derek Fisher. He’s also played overseas in the Bolivian League, where he was named MVP and earned the nickname The Roadrunner for his speed and quickness with the ball. The 6-foot point guard is like that and his game has a NYC-ish flair. And you know the LA native was down with the Showtime LA Lakers of the 80’s, but let him tell it.

“My name is Jay Brantly and I’m old enough to remember when basketball was a team sport and when Showtime ruled the league,” says the South Central, Los Angeles native. “Magic Johnson and the Showtime Lakers during the 80s era of NBA basketball were my basketball idols when I was younger. I liked their fast-break, run-and-gun style of play. I try to replicate that same style on the court today.”

The name J. Boogie was given to him because people always said that he looked like he was dancing on the court or boogin’ down. His quickness and speed allow him to blow by opposing players and get to the basket easily. Spectators are often left speechless and amazed by his ballhandling skills and tricks.

“My game is flashy, but at the same time has substance to it,” Jay says. “I model my game after the Showtime Lakers’ style of play, where it is enter­taining for the crowd while still using fundamentals. I learned by playing in the parks and at various courts at the beach – legendary streetball court Venice Beach is one of them.”

And Jay started balling young learning the game from his family and other dudes from the neighborhood.

“My uncle Kenneth and my cousin Vincent taught me how to play when I was around 3 years old. I really got into playing basketball when I was younger through pickup games at Hawthorne Park,” Jay says. “I began playing ball at Rancho Cienega Park, located in the Crenshaw District of LA, when I was 7 years old. At the age of 9, I learned the fundamentals of the game.”

And from there Jay went on to star at Granada Hills High School.

“I attended Granada Hills High School. My senior year I was voted 1st Team All-Los Angeles, All-City and Valley Player of the Year. I was also selected for the 2nd Team All-State and received honorable mention for the High School All-American Team,” Jay says.

That senior year he averaged 24 points, 11 assists and 3 steals per game including a 52-point game vs Montclair Prep. After high school Jay attended Southern Idaho Junior College for two seasons and then transferred to UNLV, where he played for the Runnin’ Rebels for two years averaging 10 points, 6 assists and 2.4 steals per game.

Jay didn’t get drafted but briefly flirted with the NBA.

“I played in the NBDL and when I attempted to enter the NBA I was told by NBA insiders that I was not what they were looking for.” Jay says. “They wanted a big guard. At the time I was like 5-foot-11. Like any other basketball player, you aspire to make it to the NBA, to be seen by millions and to make millions. But I am happy with what God has given to me now. I get to play the game that I love and still positively affect people’s lives with my talents.”

And Jay has affected people in many ways.

“Streetball has always been a part of my life,” he says. “Before all the And1 mixtapes – which I was on volumes 2-4 – and their tours I was balling on the blacktop. I’ve played with my idol, Magic Johnson, on his traveling team also.”

So like Slam Magazine said, J. Boogie is the King of Cali streetball. But Jay wanted to give back more to his community, he wanted to do more for the kids. First he started the Running J’s program to work with kids and to enrich and bring confidence to youth’s lives. Through the program, Jay holds clinics for kids where he teaches them basketball and life skills. And from that Jay has moved forward to create the LA Hooptainers, an entertainment basketball group for the new era of basketball that consists of streetball legends and celebrities that tour the country combining hip-hop and basketball. They are known as the modern day Harlem Globetrotters and their website says, “The Hoop­tainers are here to change lives and to make a positive imprint in someone’s future.”

“In conjunction with Macleem Sports Wear, we have been touring to several different countries,” Jay says.

They’ve been to China, Central America and the Caribbean. Jay has also gotten involved in movies.

“I am involved in the filming of Sweetwater,” Jay says of the film that chronicles Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, a Harlem Globetrotter and one of the first black players signed to an NBA team.

“I will be playing the role of Marquis Haynes, Nat’s teammate during his days on the Globetrotters,” Jay says.

And the streetball legend is staying busy. The LA Hooptainers will participate in the World Streetball Championships this summer.

“The WSBC is a series of full court 3-on-3, no-holds barred single elimination tournaments played in five major cities across the United States,” Jay says. “If you lose, you go home. This tournament will showcase the best known streetball players across the globe.”

Besides that Jay will be hosting the Hooptainer events.

“The events always have an up-tempo style but we play with discipline and honor. Its not like a video game,” Jay says. “For those that can recall the good ol’ days of the NBA, we play exactly how the Lakers played in the 80s. Of course, I’m the MJ of the team.”

Enough said. Check J. Boogie out.

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Long, lean, a slam dunk machine. In the world of prison basketball, you have crash test dummies and then you have players like Ali “B3″ Tatum, who at 6-foot-5 1/2 and 225 pounds might not even know the true extent of his abilities on the court. Dudes on the pound call the 26-year-old from Toledo, Ohio wild. But they don’t even know. The kid has been wild since Day 1. On the court and in life. But one thing is for certain, B3 as they call him (signifying the unit he lives in) can fly. He is not grounded like the rest of us mere mortals. On the basketball court he soars heads and shoulders above the other players. Dudes gotta be careful or they might get some nuts in their face because Ali is taking it to the rim. Because he goes hard in everything he does. In the real world, scouts would have been drooling over this kid’s ability from an early age, but since age 14 Ali has barely seen the streets. He grew up and learned to play ball inside these fences.

“I got juvenile life and spent seven years from age 14-21 in Tico a joint in Columbus, Ohio for murder and attempted murder,” Ali says  matter of factly.

He’s done a couple of bids since for possession of crack cocaine, trafficking in cocaine and assault but now he is serving 42 months in the feds for possession of a firearm. The kid is definitely no angel but that doesn’t stop him from soaring like one on the court. Tomahawk jam, alley-oop, two-handed power slam, reverse slam – they are all in his repertoire and dude can run the floor like a gazelle and of course finishing on the break is his specialty. In traffic or whatever. He doesn’t have to juke defenders because he can jump over them.

“I can do what I feel like doing when I feel like doing it,” Ali says.

And he’s right basically. This correspondent has witnessed him taking over games at will here in the rough-and-tumble world of prison basketball and bullrushing through the paint to the rim.

“I can play any position from the 2 to the 6. Shooting guard, small forward, power forward, center and out of body. That’s the 6th spot.”

And out of body is what dudes on the pound say when Ali has a great game. He had another out-of-body experience,” they say in reference to his unbelievable hops.

“All I ever wanted to do was dunk since I was 15,” Ali says. “And that is what I am known for. It’s like ‘Watch out, he’s coming.’”

Coming he is like a pogo stick. And Ali plays forth win.

“It’s about winning,” he says. “Shuttin’ ya man down and giving the crowd what they came to see. The dunks, the crossovers… My offense is a little and without the traveling and carrying cause, I give the crowd what they want. But my defense is of the NCAA-type where it’s played the hardest.”

Being in the pros was never a dream of Ali’s but he says, “I could play ball anywhere in the air or on water”.

About prison ball Ali says, “Dudes go real hard on the court. It’s a respect thang and a few real men would die for their respect.”

He admits that tempers flare at times on the court.

“Dudes get into their feelings. I do at times. That’s just part of prison ball.”

And to him, “Basketball is a stress reliever. That’s all. I focus on the bigger things in life.”

Yeah, like the NBA – where Ali says he supports KB8 and the Lake Show.

“But really I’m about winning. I got the hops of Vince Carter and its only common sense for me to have the ball in my hands and focus on mines,” Ali says.

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Who is the best player of the last decade? I can only think of two players that merit the debate: Shaquile O’Neal and Tim Duncan. But who is better and why? Each player has their favorable traits, assets and abilities that make them stand out. Both are dominant and with Duncan’s championship this year each has four rings. The MVPs, the All Star selections, the individual accolades and the team success are all there for both players… So who’s the choice?

A few years ago Shaq would have been everybody’s answer. In the post-Jordan era, he has clearly been one of the league’s most colorful characters and personalities as well as one of the most dominant, if not the most dominant player in the league. His size and skill set is enormous. Shaq is in the Wilt Chamberlain and Moses Malone mold – straight power. There is no finesse about his game. He anchored the Lakers teams that won three championships. Everything was run through him and he could explode for 40 points and 20 rebounds whenever he put his mind to it. He won his fourth championship with the Heat in 2006, but clearly he played second fiddle to Dwyane Wade. His star is still bright, but it’s fading. The wear and tear to his massive frame is showing. Shaq can’t even make it through a season anymore. Can he win another title, or more likely is he through?

Tim Duncan on the other hand seems to still be in his prime, although his individual explosions never met the heights of Shaq’s. His steadiness year in and year out has matched it. Duncan is the silent assassin. The best power forward to ever play the game. He is more of a finesse player than Shaq. More Kareem to Shaq’s Wilt. More McHale to Shaq’s Malone. But is he better? Is he the more dominant player of the last decade?

Their supporting casts have to be looked at too and both have played with a multitude of prime-time players and superstars. Shaq with Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Robert Horry and Wade and Duncan with David Robinson, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. Could the 2007 Spurs beat the champion Heat from a year ago? I believe so. Could the 2007 Spurs beat the Shaq/Kobe Lakers? I’m not so sure about that, but probably.

So when it comes down to it, we have to look at the body of work. Shaq was more explosive and his star shined brighter for a shorter period of time, but Duncan’s steady burn keeps going and going and going. Can we see a fifth and sixth ring for Duncan? If the Big Three of the Spurs stay healthy, they obviously can accomplish that.

What about Shaq? I don’t think he will see another ring with the Heat, but can he attach himself to some other potential champion like Dallas? Who knows? But as it looks right now if we are talking about a player of the decade and that decade is the first of the third millenuim, I’d have to give the nod to Tim Duncan.

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