Jay – Z sitting courtside at the Lakers vs Bucks wearing Rhude

The next chance to catch the young PUMA phenom will be Sunday, March 8th as the Lakers’ take on the highly-touted Los Angeles Clippers in their final regular-season matchup. In their last battle on Christmas Day, the Clippers came away with the victory but Kuzma stepped up leading the Lakers with 25 points on red-hot shooting.

For more on Kuzma, JAY Z, PUMA, and the culture, make sure to check RESPECT Magazine daily.

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The post Kyle Kuzma wearing new PUMA X RHUDE Collection | #TheAltWithMel appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

The Los Angeles Lakers played inspired basketball on the night of Kobe Bryant’s jerseys (plural) retirement. Chris Carlson/AP

2003 NBA Draft Class member Jarvis Hayes checks in with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Scoop B Radio and talks NBA Draft classes, Kobe and more. Press Play Below To Listen! 

Last night, the Los Angeles Lakers retired Kobe Bryant’s #8 and #24 jersey during a halftime ceremony at Staples Center. Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Bryant is a 5-time NBA champion, 18-time NBA All Star, holds a regular season MVP award, a NBA Slam Dunk Champion and became the youngest player in league history to reach 30,000 career points.

Slam Magazine’s ’96 Draft cover. Photo Credit: Ball Is Life

Bryant also holds the distinction of being drafted in the 1996 NBA Draft, an exclusive club.

Add Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury, Ray Allen, Steve Nash, Marcus Camby, Jermaine O’Neal, Antoine Walker, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Peja Stojakovic to that list.

“Kobe was the last one to finish, but you’re starting to see most of the guys finish with Hall of Fame careers,” Shareef Abdur-Rahim, a member of that class told me on Scoop B Radio

The 2003 NBA Draft class was also impressive. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh headlined it.

So who’s draft class is better?

“I think it’s really difficult sometimes to rank eras,” said Abdur-Rahim. “But I guess because I was in the 1996 draft, I rank it the best.”

Jarvis Hayes was drafted tenth by the Washington Wizards in the 2003 NBA Draft. He shares similar sentiments. “Well the book is still being written on my class,” Hayes said on Scoop B Radio.

“So you have to put it up there. But that 1996 draft class was loaded. I think my class is up there, but right now I would give a slight nod to the ’96 class until the rest of the guys from my class finish up their careers.”

The 1984 NBA Draft class was loaded with studs: Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon and John Stockton.

Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. Photo Credit: SI

While none of those guys are currently playing, they left impact on the NBA. Charles Barkley is running the TV world Thursday nights on TNT and MJ is majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets.

MJ also still has kids waiting out in the winter cold for Air Jordan sneaker releases.

No doubt ’84 impacted Kobe, Wade, ‘Melo and others.

But hey, Kobe does have a one up! Not even MJ who wore three numbers while a member of the Chicago Bulls ( 12, 23 and 45) has multiple numbers hanging in the rafters at the United Center.

But Bryant does at Staples Center!

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The post Scoop B: With Kobe’s jerseys now retired, can we debate ’96 NBA Draft class vs. 2003 NBA Draft class? appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Sports and entertainment journalist Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Credit: Bianca Egalite/Scoop B Radio

Respect Magazine’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson chatted with Syracuse, NY’s 1260 AM The Score’s “Bud and The Manchild Show” about the Los Angeles Lakers and more.

Press Play Below To Listen.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers played a thriller last night at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia, PA. Sixers big man Joel Embiid flashed a magnificent 46 point and 15 rebound outing for Philadelphia.

Ultimately, the night belonged to Lakers forward Brandon Ingram who drilled a game winner with 3 seconds left, courtesy of a crisp pass by his  Lakers teammate, Lonzo Ball.

It was a joy to see Brandon Ingram nail one of the biggest shots of his young career. He grew up liking Kobe Bryant. “My impression of Kobe is just his drive,” Ingram once told me.

Though Ingram was born in 1997, a year after The Mamba’s rookie year, he has fond memories of Bryant and the Lakers last championship run. “Everyone talks about how he works out, his work ethic, and that’s something that I eventually want to get to,” he said.

“Of course, and just want to talk with him and try to learn what he did to try to be what he is today.”

Prior to last night’s game I discussed both teams with “Bud and the Manchild” while also navigating through the rest of the NBA’s landscape. Click here to listen.  

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The post Scoop B: Lavar Ball, Lakers’ Brandon Ingram, 76ers, Warriors & Cavs talk on 1260 AM The Score’s “Bud and The Manchild Show” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

U.S. President Donald Trump and former Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace. Photo Credit: Scoop B Radio

NBA legend Metta World Peace Chatted With Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson about how African American’s can co-exist with U.S. President Donald Trump. Press Play Below to Listen!

Next month will mark a year that U.S. President Donald Trump won the 2016 Presidential election. NBA legend Metta World Peace has been vocal about current U.S. President Donald Trump since he’s entered office.

Appearing on Scoop B Radio, World Peace said that if he were the ruler of the free world for a day, he’d institute a simple solution that would unite Trump voters and African Americans.. “I think that I would probably just focus on science,” Metta World Peace told me on Scoop B Radio.

“Let everyone else focus on people who won’t get along. But just focus on education and science and that’ll handle everything.”

During last years Election World Peace started a social media binge on Twitter by tweeting the hashtag #ifmettawaspresident, which were decisions he would make if he became president.

The tweets were deleted but stuff like this are comical.

#ifMettaWasPresident #Dead hahaha pic.twitter.com/SoB9n5XUYz

— Jonathan Kaker (@theKaKeShow) November 8, 2016

You can read the story here via The Post Game’s Jeff Eisenband.

In September, the former Los Angeles Lakers forward told TMZ that President Trump needs to ignore NFL protests and refocus on stopping the violence in Chicago. World Peace also told TMZ that Trump has forgotten the promise he made to clean up Chicago after labeling the violent crime situation an “epidemic” back in June.

World Peace is also an advocate for mental health. While on Scoop B Radio, he stressed that mental health is often ignored. “Mental health is important in all communities,” World Peace told me.

“It’s important to be able to feel comfortable to come out and say you have an issue. And that’s why I’m an advocate, because I feel like if you have an issue you should be able to come out and say that.” 

The post Metta World Peace says ‘focusing on science & education’ would mend fences between Trump voters & African Americans appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Kendall Marshall and Kobe Bryant. Photo Credit: The Source Magazine

Appearing on Scoop B Radio, former Los Angeles Lakers guard Kendall Marshall chatted with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson about his playing career and playing alongside Kobe Bryant. Press Play Below.

Former Lakers guard Kendall Marshall and retired Lakers guard Kobe Bryant both have something in common: they were both selected 13th in their respective draft.

Marshall was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns. He was eventually traded to the Los Angeles Lakers after a stint with the Washington Wizards. While with the Lakers a couple of years back, Marshall became the first Laker to deliver at least 20 points and 15 assists in a game against the Utah Jazz. The last Laker to accomplish that feat was Bryant.

Bryant, the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft out of Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, PA, won five rings with the Lakers and closed his career with a heroic 60-point game againt the Utah Jazz to cap off his career.   

What’s it like to play with the Black Mamba?

“Well for one, you see a superstar and you expect him to be different and standoffish,” Kendall Marshall told me on Scoop B Radio.“But when he’s with the team and on the flights, he’s just one of the guys. That’s something that I can appreciate. I don’t know that there’s a lot of superstars that are like that.”

Kobe Bryant shooting a fadeaway in the NBA Finals. Photo Credit: Interbasket

Although retired, it has been pretty well documented that Bryant is particular on how he prepares for big game matchups. “Being around the team, the coaching staff and the trainers, you hear about his work ethic, you hear stories,” Marshall told me.

“That’s not something that I was familiar with. But to see it or hear it first hand, that’s something that I appreciated. Last but not least, his straightforward approach. He always says what he feels. That’s something that I appreciate. You don’t want somebody to sugarcoat what they’re thinking.”  

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The post Former Lakers guard Kendall Marshall on Playing With Kobe Bryant: “You see a superstar and you expect him to be different and standoffish” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

NBA Hall of Famer Dr. J, Julius Erving chats with sports & entertainment journalist Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Credit: Eric Salvary

Dr. J, Julius Erving had an amazing 16-year NBA career. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer was also one of the best slam dunkers to play the game in both the ABA era and the NBA.

Dr. J was also a Rucker Park Legend. 

In basketball, comparisons are often made in sports and it can kind of distract fans and players from the actual game. While everyone is comparing LeBron James to Michael Jordan and deciding if the Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant is the next heir to the throne, this comparison game is not new.  “My early years, I was inspired by players and comparisons were made with Elgin Baylor and number one was Connie Hawkins,” Julius Erving told me on Scoop B Radio.

“There were some definite, real comparisons to be made.”

Check out Dr. J, Julius Erving and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Scoop B Radio Overtime

Dr. J didn’t just discuss comparisons on Scoop B Radio. He also talked about Tim Duncan.

Dr. J, Julius Erving and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson at Hofstra University Gala. Photo Credit: Eric Salvary

“Yeah when you start doing all-time players and start picking your top five, your top ten or your top fifteen, whatever Tim Duncan needs to show up in that conversation,” he said. 

Added Dr. J: 

“I have a top 5. I have had it since I was 15 years old. That doesn’t change for me because those were my five favorite players. That would be my team if I was going to start a team. So I go Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson. That’s my five.”

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The post Scoop B: Julius ‘Dr. J’ Erving Names His Top 5 NBA Players, Praises Tim Duncan appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Feb 19, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) reacts during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Check Out Kobe Bryant and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson’s chat on Scoop B Radio

Many fantasize of the idea that Kobe Bryant should have gone out on top like Michael Jordan after the Bulls’ second three-peat in 1998 or Peyton Manning’s sayonara after winning Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos.

Peyton, unlike Kobe, had a supporting cast that also included a kick your, ‘rhymes with glass,’ defense.

Kobe’s farewell tour in 2016 was more like Derek Jeter’s retirement tour with the New  York Yankees a few years ago.

Bryant is okay with not finishing like Peyton.

“It would have been amazing,” Bryant told me in a Scoop B Radio chat.

Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Photo Credit: Getty Images

“But you know, it just wasn’t meant to be. But at the same time, I couldn’t complain about it. I’ve enjoyed winning to the tune of five championships and been very fortunate to have those. Most players haven’t been able to get one. So, you gotta be able to take the good with the bad.”

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The post [VIDEO] Scoop B: Kobe Bryant Says ‘It would have been amazing’ If He’d Won A Championship To End Career In ’16 appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.