MVP ISSUE 04 SUMMER by Response London

ISSUE 04

In partnershIp wIth

AftER hIS bESt NbA SEASoN yEt, LUoL IS oN A MISSIoN foR Gb EURO VISION we Look back - anD forwarD

NBA FINALS Dirk Does work - but where’s Lebron?

it’s grow or Die for britain’s top League

mvp247.com

BIGGER BBL £3.50

ISSUE 04 SUMMER 2011

EDITORIAL > CONTRIBUTORS > LISTINGS

MVP MAGAZINE Response Studios, 369B High Road, Leyton, London E10 5NA.

KEV RICE K They call him Twice As Nice, but nobody is sure why. Kev has been working as an artist, designer and maker for the best part of eleven years. His work is really varied, but very good. The crazy trainer illustrations are his responsibility. kevrice.com

e: info@mvp247.com w: mvp247.com t: 020 8558 3501

Editor Greg Tanner greg@MVP247.com Assistant Editor Mark Woods mark@MVP247.com Creative Director Jake Green jake@MVP247.com Art Director Harry Adams harry@MVP247.com Contributing Writers Sam Hart, Sam Neter, John Harris & Jacob Hiller

PAUL CALVER

Contributing Design, Photographers/ Illustrators Mansoor Ahmed, Linnea Apelqvist, Paul Calver, Kieran Halil, Adrian Nettleship, Kev Rice, Edward Shaw, Ville Vuorinen & Dan Wooller

Special thanks to ‘The Rube’, Damon & Nick at ESPN, Lauren @ Fast Track, Claudia @ AEG

Printers Printed by the Manson Group.

Published by MVP247 Ltd © Est: 2010. ISSN: 2045-4546

Distribution by: Comag distribute & can be bought at all major basketball events.

Subscriptions Swish Online Store www.swishbasketball.net We may occasionally use material we believe has been placed in the public domain. Sometimes it is not possible to identify and contact the copyright holder. If you claim ownership of something published in MVP, we will be pleased to make a proper acknowledgement. All letters received are assumed to be for publication unless otherwise stated. MVP does not accept liability for any loss or damage of unsolicited materials. Reproduction in whole or parts of any contents of MVP without prior permission of the Editor is strictly prohibited.

ALL CHANGE

’ve felt for a while now that the NBA is going through something of a transition - and when Shaq announced his retirement last month, it just confirmed it in my mind. A whole generation of outspoken, colourful and controversial figures seems to be making way for a rather blander bunch. No longer do we have a tatted-up Allen Iverson moaning about practice. Now we have a softly spoken Derrick Rose keeping it on the humble - even having a little cry during his MVP ceremony. No longer is the league’s scoring champ rocking half-a-million dollars of ice to post-game press conferences. Now he’s wearing a rucksack (seriously, KD, WTF?) And now, we no longer have Shaq. An absolute monster on the court - and a total clown off it - O’Neal was larger than life both in stature and personality. And as one of our readers points on our letters page, The Diesel was the man the League turned to when MJ retired the first time - becoming one of the players who spearheaded the start of NBA’s global takeover in the early to mid-nineties.

But just as the characters are changing, so too are the teams. Who’d have thought, just a couple of years ago, they’d be seeing the Memphis Grizzlies going deep into the playoffs? Or the Oklahoma City Thunder making the Western Conference Finals? Or Kobe Bryant’s Lakers getting swept in the second round? And whilst a bunch of veterans eventually ended up winning the chip this time around, it’s clear (to me, anyway) that the torch is most definitely being passed on to a new generation. Speaking of new kids on the block, the GB women’s team came to the world’s attention with their performances at EuroBasket earlier this summer. Now the pressure is on for the men to live up to their billing in Lithuania – after all, even with Pops Mensah-Bonsu out with an injury, this should still be the strongest side British Basketball has ever fielded. Make sure you check out Mark Woods’ coverage of events in Poland later in the mag, as well as his guide to the EuroBasket men’s competition. And take a peek at my piece on Luol Deng, who – coming off his best NBA season yet – will get no rest as he shoulders the load for his home nation this summer.

Keep ballin’ Greg Tanner

Sports, portrait and reportage photographer living in Brixton, London. “I like to work with all types of sports and athletes, I’m interested in what drives these people to dedicating their lives to their chosen discipline, the highs and the lows… If I can get that across in an image, I’m very happy.” Paul shot the Brixton Lady Topcats. calverphoto.com

ADRIAN NETTLESHIP Adrian is a photographer based in East London. He likes coffee, cooking and cycling, and believes that long term happiness and fulﬁlment should be the ultimate goal of all human action. Goes by the names Odriano. Ody, Adriano, Braindriano and Babysham Nettle$$$$hizzle. Adrian shot the Temi article. adriannettleship.com

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INSIDE

> REGULARS

10 | OVERTIME

Meet the baller formerly known as Ron Artest... and win tickets to this summer’s Olympic test tournament

26 | MARK’S VIEW POINT If you don’t bid, you can’t win

46 | ROUGH HOUSE REVELATION An unsuspecting photographer stumbles upon a piece of British basketball folklore

54 | FASHION Summer heat for your feet

18 | KNEES UP Our expert’s guide to avoiding a baller’s worst injury

> FEATURES

20 | THE BIGGER PICTURE Why expansion is the name of the game for the BBL

22 | COACHING CUTS

Are government spending plans threatening our Olympic legacy?

24 | JERRY COLANGELO The Team USA boss is picking his stars for 2012

28 | WOMEN’S EUROBASKET Great Britain raise eyebrows - and expectations - in Poland

30 | MEN’S EUROBASKET Our team by team guide to this summer’s competition

40 | NBA FINALS

Nowitzki is re-dirk-ulous as the Mavs extinguish the Heat

34 | DENG FEVER A change of coach has reignited his NBA career, but there will be no time to chill for Luol this summer

64 | BANG ON IT The Scouse spitter speaking up for urban’s unheard from

> BALLER FRONT COVER: CONCEPT BY LINNEA APELQVIST & JAKE GREEN TOP TO BOTTOM: NBAE/GETTY, PAUL CALVER, NBAE/GETTY

MVP ISSUE 5 OUT OCTOBER 5TH 2011

14 | THE REAL MACKAY The Scottish slammer aiming high this summer on U20 duty

16 | TEMI’S TURN Why it’s a family affair for the Harvard-bound Brit baller

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OMG! AN OBE!

z Former NBA and BBL centre John Amaechi hopes his Order of the British Empire for services to basketball can inspire other UK prospects to chase seemingly impossible dreams in the sport. The now-retired England international - who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic and the Utah Jazz - was himself told that he’d never make it. “I was once an overweight bookworm who hid in the corner of my school library and wished I was invisible,” he said. “My mother told me that I could do better than just disappear - she convinced me that the most unlikely of people, in the most improbable of situations, can become extraordinary. I hope to use this platform to convince other young people just how true this can be for them too.”MVP

NIIN THE PINK P

z We’ve got one of Molten’s awesome new pink basketballs to a give away in a special MVP g ccompetition. To be in with a chance of winning, just tell us how many o points you think the GB Men’s team p will score in the ﬁrst round of w EuroBasket later this summer. E

Send your prediction - along with your name and postal address – to competition@mvp247.com. The winner will be announced on September 18. In the event of a tie, a winner will be picked at random. Good luck! MVP 10

MVP ISSUE 04

RENAMING RON

z Lakers forward Ron Artest wants to change his name...to Metta World Peace. Yes, that would be the same Ron Artest who pounded on fans during the “Malice In The Palace” - the NBA’s most infamous brawl of all time. In fairness to Ron, or Metta, he has turned his life around in recent years - winning an NBA title last season and receiving the Kennedy Citizenship Award in late April for his tremendous dedication to community service. But it’s still going to be odd seeing ‘Peace’ on the back of his jersey, if it does actually happen! Artest’s lawyer has ﬁled a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court seeking the name change. It will be considered in late August. MVP

TICKETS TO SEE THE WORLD’S STARS IN LONDON

z MVP is teaming up with FIBA, world basketball’s governing body, to offer you a chance to savour the Olympic experience before anyone else! With just a year to go before the Games get underway, Great Britain’s men are readying themselves by taking on elite teams from around the globe at the London International Basketball Invitational this summer, and we have TWO pairs of tickets up for grabs to see the action in the Olympic Park on Saturday August 20. European giants Serbia, France and Croatia along with world powers China and Australia will join GB in the six-team tournament - as the five visiting teams round out preparations for their respective continental championships, where qualification for the Olympic Basketball Tournament will be at stake. To be in with a chance, just answer the following question...“When was the last time London hosted the Olympic Games?” A. 1936 B. 1948 C. 1972 D. 1996? Email competition@mvp247.com with your name, postal address and phone number. The closing date is August 5 and the winners will be drawn randomly from correct answers. Editor’s decision is final. Under-14s must accompanied by an adult. MVP

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE

z Four senior internationals have been named in the GB women’s squad for August’s World University Games in Shenzhen, China. The 13-strong line-up, which will be coached by Damian Jennings, includes six members of last year’s successful under-20 European Championship Division B winning side. With players eligible until one year after graduation, Chantelle Handy, Rose Anderson, Yemi Oyefuwa and Lauren Thomas-Johnson are all included. British Basketball has not entered a men’s squad for the World University Games due to both ﬁnancial and logistical issues. GB squad: Dominique Allen, (Oral Roberts), Rebecca Allison, (Old Dominion), Rose Anderson, (Central Oklahoma), Tamzin Barroilhet (Kent State), Mairi Buchan (Old Dominion), Ella Clark (California State), Mary Durojaye (Robert Morris), Chantelle Handy (Marshall), Renee Johnson-Allen (Drexel), Georgia Jones (Oral Roberts), Yemi Oyefuwa (Maryland), Hannah Shaw (South Nottingham College), Lauren Thomas-Johnson (Marquette) MVP MVP247.COM 11

> BBL EXPANSION

ProfESSIonal baSkEtball can’t SUccEEd UnlESS It’S In thE bIggESt cItIES.

fortUnatEly, that mIght haPPEn by nExt yEar.

20 MVP ISSUE 04

he British Basketball League has set its sights on expansion. In reality, it’s Grow or Die, especially in the big ﬁve cities of the UK. Currently, only Glasgow and Liverpool are on the list. To be taken seriously, it has to be represented in London - where the folk who control the big budgets for TV and sponsorship are. Likewise, Birmingham and Manchester - which were once the two hottest spots in domestic pro hoops - have been oﬀ the map for too long. With the Olympics coming to London next year, the BBL is determined to capitalise on whatever spike in interest is generated by TV coverage (and paying customers) to the sport. Te Games aren’t going to single-handedly rescue basketball and propel it into the football-osphere. But they’ll help. And while there have been expressions of interest in Belfast, Leeds and Edinburgh, the three most likely new teams to start operations in 2012 could give the league the lift it’s been waiting for – if the plans on the drawing board end up on the court.

WorDS By: MARK WOODS Photo By: ISTOCK/EDWARD SHAW

BIRMINGHAM

MANCHESTER

LONDON

Past Form: Birmingham Bullets started in Coventry in 1974, moved to Brum in 1980 and had a successful run, winning several trophies, until they folded in 2006. Birmingham Panthers came into the BBL for the 2007-8 season but were a complete disaster and they sank without a trace.

Past Form: Manchester United ﬂirted with basketball from 1985-88 after buying Warrington Vikings. When they decided to focus on a little known sport called football, the team became the Eagles before it was given a makeover under the Giants banner, enjoying huge success at the MEN Arena under the deep pocketedownership of Indiana-based Cook Group. When they pulled out, the team moved to the Manchester Velodrome. Tey lasted just 9 games of the 1991-2 season before collapsing.

Past Form: London Leopards, playing out of now demolished Arena on the Isle of Dogs, spent big money to get itself on the map when it debuted in 1994. Off court, it was a hard act to flourish in such an expensive venue so in 1998, the team decamped to Essex, where it lasted for five more years.

Status: Conﬁrmed for 2012 Venue: Futsal International (capacity: 800 upwards)

Te Dish: Midlands-based Oaks Consultancy – run by former UK Athletics executive Adam Walker - have been awarded the franchise, have already secured a venue, and are now putting the pieces together. “Te team will be starting in 2012 which gives us a year to establish the club, get a fan base and kick oﬀ a community programme,” said senior consultant Michelle Dorgan. “In-house, we have the marketing and commercial experience. We want to make the team self-sufﬁcient and we want to bring in backers and get funding to develop everything else. “We don’t know basketball from a playing side so we’ll look to bring on board the right coach and give them the backing them to look after that.”

Status: Probable for 2012 Venue: Eastlands Arena (capacity: 2500 – not yet built)

Te Dish: With ex-Giants coach Jeﬀ Jones driving the project, there was talk that Manchester could have re-joined the BBL in time for next season. Too much to do, too little time. Although Jones and his backers have not yet gone public with their plans, sources in the city have told MVP that they are in discussions with his consortium to place a franchise, and an extensive grassroots network, at a new facility in the east of the city.

Te new team has yet to have a nickname but don’t expect the Bullets to return. Tat’ll come once a title sponsor comes on board. Teir venue will have some dedicated basketball space but if the club takes oﬀ, there’s still the potential to play some games at the National Indoor Arena.

Next summer would be the perfect time to launch if the new club – which is almost certain to take the Giants name – can capitalise on the pre-Olympic internationals between Great Britain and the USA. EBL side Manchester Magic have continued to fly the flag in the city with a brilliant development programme. Teir best talents could have an option to stay home if Jones’ scheming pays off.

Possible Nicknames: Brummies, Gums, Broads

Possible Nicknames: Giants, Rovers, Fergies.

Status: Possible for 2012 Venue: Handball Arena (capacity: 7000 variable)

Across the city, Crystal Palace and London Towers ruled the roost south of the Tames for almost 30 years, producing a quality crop of players in-house in the 1970s before turning to imports in the 1990s when Towers even spent two years in the Euroleague. In 2006, they pulled out of the BBL and eventually folded. London United and Capital had brief stints in the league since then but both stumbled. Te Dish: BBL bosses are waiting to see who will be appointed to run the 7000-capacity arena which has been built in Stratford to stage the handball tournament at the Olympic Games, as well as other events. Post-2012, it will have a community use and it is being seen as the ideal place to give the league a foothold once more in the capital. In Europe’s largest city, is one professional team really enough? Essex Pirates would like to relocate. Tere are other facilities, ﬁt for purpose, which could accommodate franchises. And that’s before we even talk about Te 02 Arena, which staged last year’s BBL Trophy ﬁnal. Possible Nicknames: Ringers, Pearly Queens, Myopics. MVP

“ We want to make the team self-sufficient and we want to bring in backers and get funding to develop everything else ” Birmingham’s Michelle Dorgan

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> EUROBASKET PREVIEW

MVP ISSUE 04

WoRds By: MARK WOODS PHoTos By: FIBA

With Olympic qualification on offer for the winners, and a spot in next year¹s qualification tournament for teams ending up between 2nd and 5th place, EuroBasket 2011 in Lithuania is set to see the big guns of Europe on display in what could be an enthralling and open tournament when it all tips off on August 31.

n NBA lockout, still unresolved as MVP went to press, could alter the shows and no-shows dramatically. And there are fascinating questions to answer. Are defending champions Spain on the slide after their poor showing at last year’s world championships in Turkey? Is Serbia the new power in Europe? And just where does GB sit, a year out from the Olympics? In a country where basketball is a religion, every game will be watched by a full house in the six host cities. How will the hosts fare, along with their rivals? Here’s MVP’s team by team guide.

FIRST ROUND GROUP A (Panevezys) GREAT BRITAIN Coach: Chris Finch How Tey Got Here: 1st place in qualifying Group B (6-2) Track Record: 1st round in 2009. England came 12th in 1955, Scotland were 15th in 1957. Who to Watch: Luol Deng. Te Chicago Bulls forward is coming oﬀ his best NBA season yet but has shone for the national team ever since he made his debut in 2007.

He missed EuroBasket two years ago through injury but with the 2012 Olympic hosts gearing up for next summer, Britain will be keen to prove their worth at the highest level. Chances: With a full-strength squad, even in the Group of Death, GB has a shot at the second round – and maybe beyond.

LITHUANIA Coach: K_stutis Kemz_ra How Tey Got Here: Automatic qualiﬁcation (3rd at 2010 world championships) Track Record: Winners: 2003, 1939, 1937 Who to Watch: Rimantas Kaukenas. Returning to the national team after sitting out the world championships, the Siena guard will join a young team that surprised everyone in Turkey last summer before losing to the USA in the semis. Home expectations will be huge but the loss of Toronto Raptors forward Linas Kleiza is a blow. Chances: If they can deal with the pressure of an expectant nation, a team that should be targeting the semis at least.

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> COVER STORY

there will He’s coming oﬀ his most successful NBA season yet – but (insurance permitting) asket. EuroB at be no rest for Luol Deng this summer, as he leads Great Britain into battle

Words By: GreG Tanner Photos By: Linnea apeLqvisT Jake Green nBae/GeTTy

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> NBA FINALS 2011

Words By: GreG Tanner Photos By: nBae/GeTTy

OFFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Who nEEdS that dEfEncE thIng WhEn yoU’vE got Dirk Nowitzki and thE moSt potEnt ScorIng tEam In thE LEagUE? 40

MVP ISSUE 04

ive years on from their last nBa Finals meeting, both the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat sported very different-looking rosters going into this series. Only Dirk nowitzki and Jason Terry remained from the 2005-6 Mav team, while Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem were the sole survivors of that Championship winning Miami side. apart from that, everything else had changed. Dallas had quietly upgraded at almost every position and developed the deepest team in the nBa - bringing in future Hall of Fame point guard Jason Kidd, versatile swingman Shawn Marion, legit defensive big Tyson Chandler, and a bunch of solid role players such as Peja Stojakovic, Brendan Haywood and Brian Cardinal. Te Heat, in contrast, had pulled off the biggest and most controversial coup in nBa history, luring LeBron James and Chris Bosh to South Beach last summer. It was like Dallas had gone to the gym to get their body right, while Miami – like so many of its tanned-up residents - had opted for implants in a bid to achieve that perfect look. as a result, the 2011 Finals were viewed by many as a classic case of Goodies v Baddies. Te Mavs were the humble hard-workers, whose team basketball had taken them to the top. Te Heat were, to quote Joakim noah, “Hollywood as hell” - the braggadocious bunch who’d thrown around words like ‘multiple championships’ and ‘dynasty’ before they’d even held a practice session together. Tey were also the heavy favourites - and everybody loves an underdog, right? Could Dirk avenge his bitter defeat of 2006, or would LeBron make good on his promise to “win now”? and, perhaps most importantly, would Jason Terry have to get his nBa Championship trophy tattoo lasered off his bicep? Te world was about to find out...

Meanwhile, the Heat’s erik Spoelstra said closing out games was something his team was becoming very adept at: “We’ve been in a lot of these grind out games, and found a way just to stay in there and win it in the end. I think the more times you’re in those types of games, the less you panic or become distracted by that uneven ﬂow.” Dirk nowitzki wasn’t letting the loss go to his heart though. “We’re a veteran team, so you can’t get down with a loss. and I’ve said it a couple of times this playoﬀ run, if you’re the road team, you’re happy with a split. So, we’ve got another opportunity on Tursday to go get one.” James: Wade: Nowitzki: Marion:

24 pts 22 pts 27 pts 16 pts

9 rbs 10 rbs 8 rbs 10 rbs

5 ast 6 ast 2 ast 4 ast

stUNNING stAt: Dirk nowitzki shot 12-of-12 from the foul line

GAME 1 | BIG 3, BIG GAME | DALLAS 84 - 92 MIAMI Te defining story of the 2010-11 season was the Miami Heat and their ‘Big 3’. So it was fitting that James, Wade and Bosh all stepped up for their most important game since coming together last July - combining for 65 of the Heat’s 92 points, and snaring 60% of Miami’s rebounds. But the game was actually far closer than the 8-point winning margin suggests. Just one point separated the teams at the end of the first quarter and at the half. Te Mavs even went on a 7-0 run at the start of the third period. However, James and Wade’s defence changed the course of the game from that point on, helping Miami to outscore the Mavs 2210 and take a 65-61 lead going into the 4th quarter. In the final stanza, nowitzki put in a valiant 10 point effort. But Udonis Haslem gave Miami a spark late in the game, scoring 5 of his 7 points, including an and 1 on Dirk which seemed to knock the wind out of the Mavs’ sails. after backto-back dunks from Bosh and LeBron in the final minutes, the game was done. Ultimately it was Miami’s offensive rebounding (16 to Dallas’ 6) and the defence of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade that was the difference in this Finals opener. “Tey won the line of scrimmage, that’s what it came down to,” Mavs coach rick Carlisle said afterwards. “Tey were more physical inside - it led to 16 second chance opportunities for them. We’ve gotta do a better job of getting bodies on bodies. Tey’re a very good defensive team. It was tough to get shots all night. We’ll play better. I’m very certain of that.” mvp247.com 41

> BRIXTON TOPCATS WOMEN

Words & PHoTos BY: Paul Calver

Everyone in the British basketball community has heard of the Brixton Topcats. But for photographer Paul Calver, stumbling upon them at his local sports centre was a chance discovery.

eing based just behind Brixton rec, I find myself in there quite a lot – and I’ve always been intrigued by this ‘buzz’ coming from the main hall. One day, my curiosity got the better of me and I popped my head around the door. In doing so, I discovered this little sub-culture of Brixton called the Topcats. at first, I didn’t really appreciate the significance of the team. I knew that they were big in the community, but I didn’t realise how far that spread. But I quickly learned that they’re known internationally - right through to the NBa. Initially, I saw the blokes’ team. But then I got chatting to the main coach and he told me about the female squad. Tat’s how this photo project came about. I shot them at one of their last games of the season - the penultimate one, in fact - and they were playing against the league leaders. Te Brixton women’s team hadn’t been doing too well this year, so the atmosphere was pretty tense. For most of the game they were actually winning, until the very last minute. It was almost like one of those Hollywood film type things, where the other team comes back to beat them in the final moments! It was an exciting game.Having watched them in action, I’d love to go and watch some basketball at the Olympics – but, like everyone else, I didn’t get any bloody tickets! But I’ll definitely be going to see some more of the Topcats. MVP

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> BRIXTON TOPCATS WOMEN

MVP ISSUE 04

“ I knew that they were big in the community,

but I didn’t realise how far that spread. But I quickly learned that the Brixton Topcats are known internationally - right through to the NBA ” MVP247.COM 49

> FASHION

I Bball has a never ending inďŹ&#x201A;uence on street fashion, the sneakers, the hats, the baggy shorts and swagger.

PHOTOS BY: Jake Green

STREET 54

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> Travis New York MVP247.COM 55

> FA S HION > Eagle K1X 90s le. Grey, White & Cyan. kickz.com/en.

IllustratION: Kev Rice

Twice As Nice

MVP took a trip into the mind of a baller; sneakers, skulls, eagles, lazers. A whole new dimension, a whole new way of looking at the sickest kicks in the shops this summer.

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> Skull K1X 80s le. White Black Cyan. kickz.com/en. MVP247.COM 61

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