£3.50
ISSUE 07 SPRING 2012
ISSUE 07
Th el d Wi ST WE W SHOh Wit
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> EDITORIAL
MVP247 Ltd
Response Studios, 369B High Road, Leyton, London E10 5NA.
DANNY WALKER What @Dannywalker1 knows about basketball can be written on the back of a postage stamp... What he knows about journalism can be written on the other side.
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 PHOTO: NBAE/Getty
Art Director Harry Adams harry@MVP247.com Contributing Writers
Rob Dugdale, Jacob Hiller
Contributing Design, Photographers/ Illustrators
Mansoor Ahmed, Ben Blackall, Julio Gonzalez, Ivan Ruberto, Duncan Hill, Paul Underwood & Ville Vuorinen
Special Thanks To
Damon & Nick at ESPN, Heather & Tom at Nike, N/T&C at K1X, Ally & Tom at Pitch
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Hyperbole is rife within sports reporting. How many times do you see someone referred to as a “superstar” or “legend” when they’re not really? How many times have you read about a “game for the ages” or “one of the most thrilling comebacks of all time”? We’re all guilty of it, to some extent. But with the Jeremy Lin story that had the world going mad since our last issue dropped, I really don’t think there was any way you could over-write it. It was so unbelievable, it was almost ridiculous. If someone had told me at the beginning of the season that some second-year Asian-American guard was going to score more points in his first four starts than anyone in NBA history, lead the Knicks on a 7-0 run, hit a game winner and basically become the go-to guy for one of the league’s most famous franchises, I would have suggested you go lie down for a while. But it actually happened! Only in America, as they say. Although his season has now sadly been cut short due to a knee injury, I am not sure I can remember
a more compelling NBA storyline in the last 10 years. Indeed, it’s been a pretty special season all around, as far as the NBA goes - and Mark has interviewed some of the key movers and shakers for this issue. Catch his features on Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook of the OKC Thunder, as well as Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving later on in the mag. Plus, of course, a recap of the best All-Star action from Orlando. Meanwhile, Pops Mensah-Bonsu has given me the lowdown on his season in Turkey - and his preparations for the Olympics this summer. Also looking forward to the Games is GB women’s Lauren Thomas-Johnson. And looking backward is Lionel Price - one of only two survivors of Great Britain’s last Olympic team. Read his memories of the 1948 ‘ Austerity Games’ on page 32. Those Olympics certainly didn’t transform basketball’s popularity in Britain. Can 2012 fare any better? As the Jeremy Lin story proves, anything can happen.
“ I am not sure I can remember a more compelling NBA storyline in the last 10 years ”
Keep ballin’ Greg Tanner
Rob Dugdale The doyen of UK b-ball scribes, Rob’s covered the sport for three decades at home and abroad. Currently based in Manchester, he’s seen more GB games than anyone else except the team.
Paul Underwood Paul is a graphic designer and art director. He has worked with a variety of clients within fashion and art, both in the public and private sector, over the past 12 years.
DUNCAN HILL Duncan is a london based illustrator and artist working in advertising and film as a concept and storyboard artist as well as his own projects from printmaking to graphic novels.
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> INSIDE > REGULARS 10 | OVERTIME
GB’s Olympic build-up, plus new recruits for 2012.
64 | WORK OUT
Top tips to have you dribbling like a baby.
12 | MARK’S VIEW POINT
United front? The crucial decision facing basketball’s home nations.
44 | GALLERY
Capital courts - a look at some of London’s most iconic playgrounds
52 | FASHION
Get your gear looking like gold this Olympic summer.
62 | MUSIC
Urban star Labrinth comes clean about his lack of basketball brilliance.
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> FEATURES 20 | A DAY TO REMEMBER
How Nike are making it count this Olympic year
24 | ALL-STAR WEEKEND
Mid-season magic comes to Orlando with a British touch.
28 | CAMERON RUNDLES
The baby at home, getting away has put the Riders PG in charge
30 | THE LAST OLYMPIANS
Memories of 1948 from a former GB Games star
32 | POPS MENSAH-BONSU
Why kebabs are most definitely OFF the menu for the Besiktas forward.
38 | THUNDER CATS
Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are ready to pounce on a title.
> BALLER
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14 | BEN MOCKFORD
Pertinent poems serve as the life mottos in New York.
16 | KYRIE IRVING
How growing up fast was the only option for the potential Rookie Of The Year. Top to Bottom: NBAE/Getty, Ivan Ruberto & Jake Green FRONT COVER: Ronald Martinez, NBAE/Getty
18 | LAUREN THOMAS-JOHNSON
Sick of waiting, and weights, LTJ is just itching to ball out this summer.
MVP Issue 8 out JULY 19 2012
36 | KEVIN LOVE
Follow us on twitter (@MVP_247) and Facebook (@MVPMag) for daily news, exclusive features and competitions.
The Wolves big has the best contact book in the business
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> #MAKEITCOUNT
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MVP ISSUE 07
WordS: Greg Tanner PhotoS: Bogdan Maran, Gary Moyes
“ I’ve never seen
anything like it before. Something like this needs to happen again” - Tom Martin, Team MVP
Nike mark a special day with a special basketball tournament
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> NBA ALL-STAR 2012
shone but Kevin Durant wasn’t LeBron James of the the only mis-fire ndo weekend in Orla
I
the near equals, n a battle of ne. no to m sli ror is margin for er d an ts in had 36 po Kevin Durant ree th r fo s es flawl was almost nfere Western Co quarters as th tar l-S Al BA N e d clear in th re we po ce en ndo. Game in Orla the East r stages, as In the latte and surged under forward quelled the Th in touching th wi behind to back from 21 turned into ow-out finally distance, a bl eat players gr e ith all thes a contest. “W ow what will you never kn on the floor, tory against vic Durant. With happen,” said points of his ht, and with 36 the odds in sig mes looked Ja ated, LeBron g own accumul an astonishin e plaudits for when e set to take th ps la te la over, one rally. One turn e dying secby just 1 in th d ile tra am his te out his toil. pe wi it took to onds, was all James, once e MVP award. Durant took th tely wish I ni efi e heat. “D again, felt th he admitted. at one back,” could have th ere was no th , June Just like last ble. do-over availa rning to owcase retu With the sh e since tim st a for the fir her this Central Florid et wh f of had all been rewell fa 1992, the talk d gran ght Howard’s would be Dwi o. bash in Orland t too warm fered the Wes of an rm pe t Su an record 88 ur a D in up ev ed K they rack a welcome as n Kobe Bryant first half. Whe points in the mark of 262 nd la Jordan’s broke Michael third quarter, nk late in the points on a du
“ With all
these great players on the floor, you never know what will happen ”
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Words: Peter James PhotoS: NBAE/Getty
ieten their no way to qu there seemed casion. oc e mes rose to th matter party. Until Ja no , or tit pe m nt to “Being a co wa t n’ do e or not, you am G r urse ta co l-S f Al . “O t,” James said ers pe ur get blown ou yo t ns ai re going ag ers ay pl t not, when you’ ea ing against gr ers. I ay and you’re go pl t ea gr aying with and you’re pl up and see if try to pick it to ed nt just wa d we did.” an e a run at it, we could mak off James’ ed ck pi fin rif Until Blake G easily have so d en he coul interior pass wh the game. basket to tie driven to the ane Wade, e-throw. Dwy Griffin hit a fre ird All-Star only the th who recorded points, 10 24 ever with triple-double issed a three 10 assists, m rebounds and am down,” te y er. “I let m t on the buzz it was a grea “But overall from gs said James. in ow sh r ith sub-pa weekend.” W r festivities, other All-Sta ’s ue ag le the hing, if not et m lvaged so at least he sa the East. >>>
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> WESTBROOK / DURANT
WordS: MARK WOODS PhotoS: Layne Murdoch NBAE/Getty
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After coming up just shor t in West, hopes are high in OK the But can their dynamic du C. o ro to the next level in 2012? ll
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> GALLERY
PHOTOS: JAKE GREEN
ON
CAMERA
When our creative director, Jake Green, set out to identify the most interesting basketball courts in London, he discovered a hidden world of urban hoops hotspots. Moving images of selected courts featured in this gallery are included in the Nike 1948 London App, available from iTunes.
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> Argyle Square WC1H
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> TRAINERS
Set Design: Paul Underwood PhotoS: Ivan Ruberto
If you’re wondering what new kicks are out this spring, then you’re in the right place. There’s a fine line between love and hate, but you’re bound love some the trainers that we’ve picked out for you this issue.
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Converse Chuck Taylor | Blue converse.co.uk
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