IT’S STILL UNREAL to be described as an NBA champion. I’m very lucky and very blessed. I think each title was different, each one had their own struggles and they all were very tough. This one being in the bubble was the toughest mentally, for sure, because of the circumstances.
My first one, with the Spurs, we lost to Miami the year before, then we had a chance to come back and it was a relief—it wasn’t easy beating them in the 2014 NBA Finals. The second took five years to get back, being in Canada with the Raptors, having a lot going on there and this one being in the bubble, they’re all very tough mentally, physically, emotionally.
The bubble was draining. When my fiancée finally got to Orlando, it made things a little bit easier for a little while. I missed my dogs, too, I hadn’t seen them for three months. I have two Pomsky dogs—Gizmo (like Gizmo from Gremlins) and Nuke. They're like miniature Huskies and have a lot of energy.
When you’re in one space, it can mentally get to you. Being around the same scenery and not really getting fresh air, it was definitely draining but well worth it. It’s almost hard to put it into words but it felt like, Alright, I could probably retire a happy man right now. A dream I had as a kid has come true.
That being said, winning made me feel ultra relief. There was obviously the satisfaction of winning, but the stress relief of it being over and getting to go home. Like, we get to go back to somewhat of a normal life.
Denne historien er fra November - December 2020-utgaven av Slam.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November - December 2020-utgaven av Slam.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The SUMMER THAT WASN'T
Playground entry fences chain locked. Rims removed. Leagues canceled. Summer basketball just stopped in 2020. And as its effects extended beyond the blacktop, we were reminded why it's so important.
METAMORPHOSIS
The sport of basketball speaks to so many people in so many ways. Dan Peterson, the founder of Project Backboard, has teamed up with artists to use the beauty of the sport to turn local courts into works of art that are accessible to all.
WHERE THERE'S SMOKE, THERE'S Fire
For former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton, the last three years have had their ups and downs. Now that he and the Phoenix Suns are back on the way up, DA wants everyone to know that's where they're planning to stay.
Now What?
As North Carolina rapper J. Cole transitioned from up-and-comer to full-blown vet, he came to a realization: staying sharp and fighting off complacency ain't easy. Inspired by his love for basketball and his desire to remain on top of the game, the 36-year-old has been treating music like a competitive sport while he readies his next project: The Off-Season.
ONE STEP AT A Time
NBA and G League vet Jeremy Lin and Loyola Marymount's Anthony Yu speak candidly about the ups and downs of being Asian American in the basketball world.
THE GARDEN Blooms
The Knicks are back. Deadass, they're back. A return to the tough, gritty, resilient style that made the teams of the past so dominant has allowed Saba Julius Randle and RJ Barrett and the Knicks an opportunity to compete for homecourt advantage in the 2021 playoffs. Facts.
CITIZEN OF THE World
Congolese native Yannick Nzosa played for professional teams in Italy and Spain before he turned 17. Now that his name is moving up the 2022 pre-draft boards, the former soccer player has one thing front and center in his mind—succeeding for his family back home.
STRONG Island
Mental fortitude and physical toughness are what's helped Long Island's Arella Guirantes make it all the way to the W.
KICK IN THE Door
The WNBA, now in its 25th season, is the longest-running women's sports league ever. SLAM sat down with four of the most influential players of all time Diana Taurasi, Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Sue Bird to discuss their part in making the League the force it is today.
Can't YOU SEE
It ain't hard to tell that supernatural vision has established Nuggets star Nikola Jokic as a clear candidate for the 2021 MVP Award.
