Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
Coach Brad Stevens, @RealDealBeal23 & @TreyBurke work out the guards at #BWBAfrica. pic.twitter.com/4F4TekRKaI
— NBA (@NBA) July 30, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThe NBA and the Players Association are teaming up to present the league’s first-ever game in Africa, and the good news is that the Celtics have a strong presence in this international event.
The cleverly named NBA Africa Game 2015 is a sort of summer all-star contest pitting Team Africa against Team World. Tip-off in Johannesburg, South Africa, is Saturday at 9 a.m. Eastern, televised on ESPN. The game caps off several days of clinics and community outreach by an array of NBA players and coaches representing countries around the globe.
Team World’s roster includes Celtics guard-forward Evan Turner, as well as Brad Stevens serving as assistant coach to Lionel Hollins. Marcus Smart was also supposed to play for Team World, but the dislocated fingers he suffered in the Vegas Summer League caused him to stay home.
The fact that Boston is well-represented means something, because too often it seems the Celtics are overlooked or minimized by the NBA. I have no research or hard evidence of this, just a gut feeling. But I can give some examples.
- When the Celts dominated the league in 2007-08 and won the title, yet Kevin Garnett didn’t win the MVP and Doc Rivers didn’t win Coach of the Year.
- When the Celtics and Lakers were both coming off a year of missing the playoffs, and Boston was not included even once on the 2014-15 national TV schedule, while the Lakers were shown repeatedly simply because they still had a supposed superstar on their roster.
- When commercials depict other teams’ fan bases as young and energetic, while Celtics fans are represented by an old white guy. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.)
If you agree the league doesn’t go out of its way to spotlight the Celtics, then it’s refreshing that this event included not just two Boston players, but also the fast-rising coach who is really the star of the team at this point. Now let’s see if they get back onto national TV.
P.S. The Celtics have apparently had just one roster player from an African country: Michael Olowokandi, who was born in Nigeria but grew up in England.
Related: SB Nation – Gregg Popovich and Team Africa prepare to inspire a new generation | Associated Press – ‘Stay tuned’ for regular-season NBA game in Africa, Silver says
On Page 2: Jo Jo could ball
“I could ball,” he said. “I’m just letting you know. I could ball. I don’t care what somebody said, or what they said, we came to play.”
As the years stretched between White’s retirement and his eligibility for the Hall of Fame, the call for his induction became louder and louder. One year after his retirement from basketball, the Celtics retired his jersey — memorializing him alongside franchise greats such as Russell, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, John Havlicek and Bob Cousy.
The case for White’s induction was pretty clear — he was part of the rebirth of one of the most storied franchises in basketball history, and he was arguably the team’s best player in the playoffs as the Celtics won their 13th NBA championship, averaging 17.2 points per game during his 10-year career. Injuries limited him in his final two seasons, but while he was with the Celtics, he helped contribute to a rich winning culture.
MassLive – Boston Celtics legend Jo Jo White on Basketball Hall of Fame induction: ‘Why did it take so long?’
Jo Jo White will soon become the 34th individual affiliated with the Celtics to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. And he’s right to wonder why it took so long. Much like Dennis Johnson in the ’80s, Jo Jo was a rugged, durable two-way guard in the ’70s who helped the Celtics win multiple titles.
They both also had to wait far too many years to be honored by the Hall. In Jo Jo’s case, that’s probably because he was overshadowed in his career by more flamboyant guards such as Tiny Archibald and Walt Frazier. Thankfully, Jo Jo’s election was not posthumous, as it was for DJ.
If you’re not familiar with Jo Jo White because he played so long ago, just know this: the 1976 banner would not be hanging in the Garden without him. On a team with legends Havlicek and Dave Cowens, it was Jo Jo who won the Finals MVP by leading the team in scoring and assists versus Phoenix. In Game 5 – the triple overtime 2-point win that’s widely known as the greatest game of all time – Jo Jo played 60 of 63 minutes and led all scorers with 33 points. That’s some ball, all right.
And, finally… Good for Vin Baker
#ICYMI: @KevinMcNamara33 on Vin Baker, the former @NBA star now working at #RI @Starbucks. http://t.co/bChPswtHuQ pic.twitter.com/JdQHGLskt8
— Providence Journal (@projo) July 30, 2015
Providence Journal – Ex-NBA star Vin Baker conquers demons and shoots for success in Starbucks management
Upon seeing this candid article, I was surprised that a former Celtic was working at a Starbucks store. What caught my eye most, however, was that the Starbucks is in North Kingstown, R.I., where I happen to live. I went there on Thursday hoping to meet the four-time NBA all-star and Olympic gold medalist, and offer a good word on his efforts to recover from alcoholism – which caused his release from the Celtics in 2004, toward the end of two disappointing seasons. Unfortunately, Baker wasn’t there, so I’ll have to try again soon. At least I came away with an iced café mocha.
The Rest of the Links:
ESPN Boston – Keeping up with the Jones | MassLive – Flip Saunders recalls the time Kevin Garnett cussed out Minnesota Timberwolves teammate Nikola Pekovic at practice | Sacramento Bee – Kings to hire Nancy Lieberman as an assistant coach | LA Times – Inglewood welcomes back Paul Pierce … as a Clipper | Atlanta Journal-Constitution – Mike Scott of Hawks arrested on drug charges
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