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All Ball

OFF THE BENCH

SLAM Philippines

Trash Talk • This so Tuff and I’m a Lakers Fan. All 3 DAWGS.

THE OPENING TIP

GLOW UP • The City of Lights has a brand new basketball club, Paris Basketball. And they’ve got their eyes set on becoming a global force.

WHERE I’M FROM • Polo G isn’t just talking about inspiring the next generation, he’s doing it with the Chicago Grizzlies, his own AAU program.

ELISSA CUNANE • NC STATE 6-5, C

A KID FROM CONEY ISLAND

MUST-SEE TV • Washington, DC, is home to the most watchable team in the world. Just don’t look at the standings or anything.

SLAMADAMONTH • AARON GORDON OVER TACKO FALL

SUM 2 PROVE • FROM UNHERALDED PREP PROSPECT TO MID-MAJOR STAR TO POTENTIAL NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES STAR JA MORANT IS AS LEGIT AS THEY COME. AND NOW, HE’S FOCUSED ON ONE THING AND ONE THING ONLY: STACKING WINS.

NONSTOP • AS THE PLAYOFFS APPROACH, THE TORONTO RAPTORS ARE A VALID CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER. AND ALL THE DOUBT THAT SURROUNDED THEM? THEY THINK IT’S FUNNY.

THE BLUEPRINT • WHEN JAYSON TATUM WAS A KID, HIS FAVORITE PLAYER WAS KOBE BRYANT. THE CELTICS ALL-STAR FOLLOWED EVERYTHING BEAN DID ON THE COURT IN THE HOPES OF GETTING HIS GAME AS CLOSE TO 24’S AS HE POSSIBLY COULD.

BIG NIGHT AT THE BEERHOUSE: HOW SAN MIGUEL FLIRTED WITH HISTORY AND TOOK HER HOME • WITH THROWBACK CONTENT RULING THE CULTURE THESE DAYS, WE FOUND IT BEST TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE DOMINANT BEERMEN WERE ONCE DOWN 0-3 IN THE FINALS. AND THEN THEY WON IT. STILL CRAZY.

PASSION PLAY • AS THE FOUNDER OF HOOPS2O, INDIANA PACERS GUARD MALCOLM BROGDON IS HELPING BRING CLEAN, DRINKABLE WATER TO PEOPLE WHO DESPERATELY NEED IT.

FIRST STEP • THE JOURNEY THAT JOEL EMBIID HAS TAKEN FROM AFRICA TO AMERICA, AS THE FIRST-BORN SON OF STRICT EDUCATION-FOCUSED PARENTS, FEELS LIKE A MOVIE.

SMOOTH MOVES

KIEFER'S BLUE EAGLES VERSUS THIRDY'S BLUE EAGLES

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME • THIS ISN’T JUST ANOTHER STORY ABOUT A GROUP OF GUYS WITH A PASSION FOR HOOPS. MEET THE BROOKLYN NETS OF THE NATIONAL WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION.

IN THE FAST LANE • FROM DROPPING DIMES TO SCORING AT WILL, ST. LOUIS NATIVE CALEB LOVE HASN’T LET THE HATERS AFFECT HIS GAME. HE JUST KEPT PLAYING UNTIL HIS CRITICS CAUGHT UP TO HIM.

FAMILY TIES • TOP-5 SENIOR CAMERON BRINK GREW UP CLOSE TO THE CURRY FAMILY—YEAH, THAT ONE—AND HER OLDER “BROTHERS” HELPED GIVE HER A FIRST-CLASS BASKETBALL EDUCATION.

BOUT IT, BOUT IT • MASTER P STARTED AN EMPIRE IN THE ’90S, SPLITTING HIS TIME BETWEEN BASKETBALL AND MUSIC. NOW HIS SONS, HERCY AND MERCY, ARE FOLLOWING IN THEIR FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS.

GABE’S TOUGHEST MATCH-UP

COACH YENG BEING COACH YENG

KICKS

Arts & Crafts • VIRGIL ABLOH did it again, creating yet another masterpiece with Jordan Brand.

The Past is Present • PUMA’s latest hoops shoe—combining the old and new—is a dream come true.

@SLAMARCHIVE • SLAM 39 January 2000

SOLESHINE • KOBE AND GIGI...