NEWSLETTER
Sorry for the delayed bullets today. I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t pause to write about the Knicks’ misfortune.
TAKE EVERYTHING FROM THEM, ADAM. EVE-RY-THING.
- Numerous NBA players and legends honored the great Bill Russell on Sunday, including The GOAT. Michael Jordan released a statement describing Russell in the very way he should be remembered: A Pioneer.
- While Jordan might sit at the top of the GOAT rankings now, Russell held that spot for a handful of years. Only a few players – if that – won consistently at the level Russell did. He epitomized what it meant to be a successful professional athlete, and Jordan’s statement underscores that point.
- NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson also spoke with former-Bull Bill Cartwright around about his relationship with Russell. Cartwright attended Russell’s alma mater, University of San Francisco, which is where he first had an opportunity to meet the icon.
- Speaking of icons, DeMar DeRozan will continue to honor the late-Kobe Bryant thanks to a new endorsement deal with Nike. More on that awesome news below …
- While I know NBA players taking the Pro-Am court is nothing new, I can’t help but think DeRozan reinvigorated the urge for some to compete. Since DeRozan’s first game in the Drew League earlier this summer, we have seen guys like LeBron James, Trae Young, and John Collins suit up. Dejounte Murray also recently joined his new Atlanta Hawks teammates in Jamal Crawford’s Crawsover league. To say those three destroyed would be an understatement (let’s hope they don’t look that good next season).
- Likewise, rookies Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren gave the Crawsover league a try and looked ready to take the NBA by storm. Banchero dropped an absurd 50 points while Holmgren recorded an easy 8 blocks. To be sure, I know the competition isn’t anything close to what they’ll see in October, but it’s still a good reminder of how special these two prospects appear to be.
- Seriously, how freakin’ cool is to see these big names filling a high school gym? The best part of all this is that it’s truly driven by nothing more than the the love of the game. No one is making these players compete during their off months, and no one is broadcasting these games to the masses. Instead, these are just star players who love what they do and love putting on a show for fellow basketball junkies. You got to respect it.
- Also, in case you missed it, the Bulls’ own Dalen Terry gave the Chicago community a look at his exciting game last week:
- I think I may have shared this fact before, but it’s so dope I have to share it again:
- Do you know how much better you have to be than literally everyone to be favored in 185-straight games? I’m not sure any stat goes to show how truly unstoppable the 90s Bulls were better than that one. There was just nothing you could do, and Vegas knew it.
- If you need me, I’ll be Space Jamin’.
- The BN Blogathon is underway! My bossman Brett is doing 41-straight hours of writing, and the trades have just begun. Wish him luck!
