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Mr. Triple double

Goodbye Oscar Robertson, hello Westbrook! April 9th, 2017 cemented Russell Westbrook legacy as Mr. triple double. Russel Westbrook has always been an amazing basketball player and was the best decision the Seattle Supersonics could have made when drafting young Westbrook in the 2008 draft.

Changes were made and instead of roughly flying traveling 1,135 miles to Seattle from Los Angeles, Westbrook was extending his trip a few miles to continue his basketball journey in Oklahoma. It’s a quite a drive away, but Westbrook makes sure to call back home every day the distance did not break the strong ties he has with his family.

Westbrook had a strong fanbase and was supported greatly by his parents. Russell Westbrook Sr., believed in his sons’ talent and helped train him the best he could be at the game. Westbrook had an energy that easily inspired his fellow teammates. When recruited by UCLA he helped the Bruins reach the final four in several seasons. Westbrook has a very likeable persona that rubbed off on other people.

Mr. Triple double has a history of having a very successful history with basketball that began in high school and carried on to the NBA. He learned early on to not take life for granted and this was largely learned through the deaf of his high school best friend. During a pick-up match, Khelcey Barrs III died tragically due to an enlarged heart. The buddies had dreams of making it to UCLA and playing side by side together. Westbrook continues to honor his memory by wearing KB3 wristbands during every game. Barrs was his best friend and this is one of the motivations Westbrook has in playing each basketball with a spark of passion.

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The Shut down

Suddenly it just wasn’t the same for Porzingis. Waking up early and keeping up with the daily exercise drained the young athlete. He was in love with the sport of basketball but when an overwhelming sense of exhaustion overcame him, concern began to burn at the back of his mind. What was wrong with him? After 6 months, the doctors finally diagnosed Kristaps Porzingis with Anemia. This is a condition where the body has a very low count of red blood cells or dysfunctional red blood cells in the body. This was causing him major fatigue that affected his game for the Spain Seville team. However, when diagnosed and given the proper medication, KP came back and felt better than ever. His battle with anemia did not put a damper on his talent that he was so destined to play.

At an early age, KP fell in love basketball and even did cornrows on his hair like the great Allen Iverson. In his home, he also idolized Carmelo Anthony and even owned his jersey. The NBA had always surrounded KPs’ life so it came to no surprise when he announced his intention to join the NBA 2014 Draft.

For the Magics, KP would have been their ideal candidate. But to their dismay, KPs’ intention for joining the 2014 draft was to get his name out there for the world to learn his name. KP withdrew fully knowing that a team was already very interested in him. But he just wasn’t ready.

The following year KP began to turn heads. He even got the attention of Phil Jackson the general manager for the New York Knicks. This was going to be the year KP would fully commit to the draft and his hopes were set on New York.

Although he wanted the Knicks, the Knicks fans did not want him. When KP was drafted, he was greeted with a roar of boos. But he easily shut them down his rookie season when he performed an outstanding performance. According to basketball reference, KP was the first rookie in NBA history to score more than 1000 points, grab 500-plus rebounds, make 75-plus three-pointers and deny more than 100 plus shots. He also made NBA All-Rookie first team as well.

Growing up as a major basketball fan in Latvian, KP made his dreams a reality.

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The Great Wall of Washington

He’s unstoppable. He’s impenetrable. Or so it seems that way. The Point guard John Wall of the Washington Wizard have transformed the definition of being a point guard. Wall seems to be almost a genius at his craft and with his contribution has led his team to the 2017 playoffs. Since he was a young child, Wall had expressed a deep interest in basketball but circumstances had derailed a fast and easy road to his current NBA success.

John Wall had grown up without his father by his side. Before John Wall being born, Wall senior was incarcerated for second degree murder. For Wall senior, this life of crime continued and when John wall was just an infant his father was charged for armed robbery at a convenient store. Behind bars, Wall visited his father in prison until the age of 9 where his father was released because John Wall senior had been diagnosed with terminally ill liver cancer. At a family vacation, John Wall witnessed his father dead at the hotel room they were staying in.

As much as John Wall did not want to be like his father, at the age of 13 Wall turned into a child who got himself in all sorts of trouble including the law. He had a hostile attitude on the basketball court which resulted him to be kicked out of basketball camps.

However, as quickly as it started, suddenly John Wall decided to undergo a complete transformation. John Wall decided to do better as a person and this sudden change was thanks to his mother who told him “Don’t be like your father. You’re better than that John.”

John Wall became a hard-working individual in and out school. His love for basketball increased and John Wall had developed his talent to an NBA level. His performance during his rookie season awarded him the honor of NBA All-Rookie First team and is now a four time NBA All-star from 2014-2017. John Wall overcame his circumstances and crossed the walls that stood in his way of becoming an NBA player. John Wall is an NBA inspiration.

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The Cyborg’s Claws

Is this man even human? That’s a question that Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale has been mulling over since their recent playoff face off. Whether he is a robot or not Kawhi Leonard sure does play like a field goal shooting machine.

As a sophomore at San Diego State University, Leonard announced his intention to enter the 2011 NBA draft.  As the 15th 1st round pick, the Indiana Pacers acquired a defensive player who would eventually become the 2012 NBA All-Rookie First Team winner, back to back NBA All-defensive First team player in 2015 -2016, two time NBA All-Star from 2016-2017, and now a 2017 MVP candidate. However, what could have been as an advantageous pick for the Pacers was ultimately loss when Leonard was traded that same day to the San Antonio Spurs.  Greg Popovich utilized and polished Kawhi Leonard’s talent that has made him an almost unstoppable small forward. But his passion for the game was first planted by his father.

Leonard owes his tough work ethic to his father. Born in Los Angeles, California, Leonard worked at a car wash owned by his father. Mark Leonard believed in his son’s talent and dedicated his time to making Leonard a better basketball player. This along with working at the car wash side by side with his father grew a strong bond between the two. But one day at the job altered Leonard’s life forever. On January 18, 2008 Mark Leonard was shot and killed and as of 2017 the murderer has still not been found.

After his father’s death, Leonard kept his feelings to himself but his drive to make his father proud has led him to becoming the all-star basketball he is today. Leonard’s past has definitely affected his future and proceeds to be an amazing player for the Spurs. Currently, for his 2016-2017 NBA season Kawhi Leonard career average is 25.5 points, 3.5 assists and 0.7 blocks per game. Take that for data.

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Yet another win for Isaiah

          No, not Isaiah the prophet or the small man Isiah Thomas from the 1980’s Detroit Pistons. But Isaiah Thomas from the Boston Celtics who rose from the doubt coming from people he had encountered his whole life. His height stood as a challenge, but that never stopped Isaiah from achieving his dream to become an NBA basketball player. Born in Tacoma, Washington, Isaiah Thomas was inspired by his father’s love for the game. Ever since then he had not let go of a basketball and poured his heart out on the court. However, after the realization that he would never grow any taller than 6 feet, Isaiah devoted his time to studying the game and found inspiration through players like Tony Parker and Steve Nash. During High school, Isaiah Thomas showed promise and entered his year as a Huskie at Washington state. There, he went on to rank sixth in school history to achieve 1,721 points and as a junior was named First Team All-Pac 10. 

        However, these titles did nothing for Isaiah’s reputation and still being written off because of his height. In 2011, he announced that he was going to enter the draft. Ultimately, the Sacramento Kings gave him an opportunity as the last draft pick for that year. But the team still did not appreciate his 20 points per game average during his third season. When traded to the Phoenix Suns, the team refused to play Isaiah as a starting point guard believing he was not good enough to start. This was a choice they would later regret, as Isaiah is now averaging 28 points in the regular season with the Boston Celtics. Isaiah Thomas overcame his tough circumstances and re-wrote his destiny by becoming a noteworthy point guard in the NBA. Isaiah Thomas overcame his height and the trash talkers had encountered in his life. It was he who has won the last laugh after all. 

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Jimmy Talk! will take this blog to the streets and interview people on their opinions about Jimmy Butler.

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Butler Grabs the Bull by the Horns

 He rushes past his opponent. His heart is racing, beating out from off his chest. He grips the ball, pushes his feet off the ground and with the release of the ball, Jimmy lets go of all the harsh realities life has presented to him.

For NBA player Jimmy Butler, life was no easy rodeo for this southern cowboy. Born in Tomball, Texas, Jimmy Butler learned firsthand that nothing in life was going to be served to him on a silver platter. At the age of 13, Jimmy’s mother kicked him out from his home and was forced to jump from one friend’s home to another.

Basketball became his only savior and the court blessed him with opportunities that would ultimately lead him to where he is today. During high school, his love for the game beamed from off his jump shot and this won the heart of Jordan Leslie, who then opened his home to him. This act of kindness altered Jimmy’s life and he finally gained the support he needed to change his lifestyle and improve his talent dramatically.  

If he had given up and let life stomp him to the ground, Jimmy Buckets Butler would not be the 3 time NBA all-star that he is today. He grabbed life’s bull s*** by the horns and let his motivation and drive guide him over to his next Bull. Jimmy Butler is a man who defeated the odds and has become such an inspiration to many people today.

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Jimmy Butler — Chicago Bulls

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Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade — Chicago Bulls

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