Oklahoma City Thunder forward Carmelo Anthony. Photo Credit: USA Today Sports/Mark D. Smith

Ronnie Singh, known to gamers as Ronnie 2K checked in with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Scoop B Radio. Press Play Below To Listen

The Oklahoma City Thunder made a splash this offseason when they traded for both Paul George and Carmelo Anthony.

Another offseason occurrence was the birth of Hoodie Melo, Anthony’s workout alter ego.  “It started with a beanie,” Anthony told reporters during the Oklahoma City Thunder’s media day last week.

“Like I was just in the gym and I didn’t have a haircut, and I was like, ‘I’m just gonna go and throw a hat on. I wanted to sweat, and I just started working back out in the summer,” he explained. “From there, it went to a hoodie and it got out, and the phenomenon started.”

The phenomenon was such a big deal that popular video game, NBA 2K released their ratings, gave Carmelo Anthony a 84 overall rating and jokingly gave Hoodie Melo a 98 overall rating.

Carmelo is rated an 84 but #HoodieMelo would become best current player in #NBA2K18. Think @TheRealJRSmith would agree… pic.twitter.com/hzijm9A7OM

— NBA 2K 2K18 (@NBA2K) August 19, 2017

What gives?

Many thought Hoodie Melo was just a summer workout thing. Not so fast! 

Not only did Melo rock a charcoal grey hoodie under his jersey during OKC media day, but on Sunday, during the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 10th annual Blue & White Scrimmage, he wore a sleeveless hoodie. 

And yes, Carmelo Anthony is scrimmaging in a sleeveless hoodie pic.twitter.com/FWUl83JAS4

— Erik Horne (@ErikHorneOK) October 1, 2017

So hoodie Melo is really a thing, huh?

“Well yeah he really is a thing,” says NBA 2K’s face and digital strategist, Ronnie Singh told me on Scoop B Radio.

Better known to gamers as Ronnie 2K, Singh breaks it down:

“He is an imaginary character in our game at this moment. Meaning they’re not exactly sure what we are going to do with him and of course, you know there are rights issues with that too. So we will see what happens, but Hoodie Melo is definitely something that is interesting to us, so we will see.”

Sep 25, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George (13), guard Russell Westbrook (0) and forward Carmelo Anthony (7) pose for photos with head coach Billy Donovan during the Oklahoma City Thunder Media Day at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-363579 ORIG FILE ID: 20170925_kek_ax3_135.JPG

Time will tell whether Anthony will actually wear a hoodie in game. But the Thunder have a lot to cheer about with the acquisition of George and Anthony.The icing on the cake happened on Friday, when Russell Westbrook signed a five-year, $205 million deal with OKC, the largest contract in NBA history. Westbrook will make $569,512 per game. 

As for Anthony, the Thunder’s new starting power forward, the birth of Hoodie Melo was inspired by his motivtion for the game, particularly as he was looking to turn the page, post- Knicks. “For me, it was just about showing a different focus that I have,” he said earlier this week.

“A different motivationand just locking in to what I have to do. And locking myself into the gym, and locking myself into focusing in on my body.”

Added Anthony:

“Because I didn’t know what was going to happen. It was so much going on that was surrounding me that I just wanted to find a way that I can just focus in, and that’s when Hoodie Melo was created.”

Suggested Articles:

The Next Big Showcase’s Cliff Po & DJ Tarzan Making Dreams Reality in NYC & NJ

Scoop B Radio: Turner Sports’ Steve Smith Talks Career & More

The post NBA 2K’s Ronnie 2K On OKC’s Hoodie Melo: “Hoodie Melo is definitely something that is interesting to us” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac. Photo Credit: SPOX

The Orlando Magic’s Jonathan Isaac Chatted With RESPECT Magazine’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson On Scoop B Radio. Press Play Below To Listen.

If Jonathan Isaac was a car, he’d be an Escalade with Lamborghini doors.

The Orlando Magic rookie’s got point guard speed, shooting guard scoring ability meshed with power forward height and center blocking ability.

The comparisons are endless: the Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant, New Orleans Pelicans’ Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Brandon Ingram.  

Does Isaac sees the Ingram comparisons? “I do,” Jonathan Isaac told me on Scoop B Radio.

“You know, we’re both super long, super athletic and able to handle the ball and shoot it.”

Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram. Photo Credit: Lake Show Life

Isaac has the defensive versatility to check at least four positions, maybe even stealing some minutes at the 5 once he fills out.

He has a preference though.

“Well, I think I enjoy guarding the perimeter more just because it’s an unconventional thing,” said Isaac.

“So when I switch off to  a point guard or two guard I take pride in it.”

Suggested Articles:

The Next Big Showcase’s Cliff Po & DJ Tarzan Making Dreams Reality in NYC & NJ

Scoop B Radio: Turner Sports’ Steve Smith Talks Career & More

The post Orlando Magic’s Jonathan Isaac Sees Similarity Between Himself & Los Angeles Lakers’ Brandon Ingram appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Wanda Durant and Kevin Durant embrace. Photo Credit: NBC Sports

Sunday is Mother’s Day. Athletes can’t do it without the love of their momma’s! While the Golden State Warriors have about a week off before they take on either the Houston Rockets or San Antonio Spurs in the NBA’s Western Conference Finals, why not reach into the Scoop B Radio vault and acknowledge Wanda Durant, the mother of Golden State Warriors small forward, Kevin Durant?

When accepting his 2014 NBA regular season MVP award, Kevin Durant tributed his big gain by tailoring his speech to his mother, Wanda Durant, stating: “You made us believe. You kept us off the street. Put clothes on our backs, food on the table. When you didn’t eat, you made sure we ate. You went to sleep hungry. You sacrificed for us … You the real MVP.”

His story resonated so much with many because he and his brother were products of single parent homes, yet they never went without anything and they grew up happy.

Kudos to good parenting.

Appearing on Scoop B Radio Overtime, Wanda Durant chatted with me about her son. Everyone tells her that her son is great, but what is the biggest surprise now that your son is successful? “Well I’ve always known Kevin, I’ve always known him because I was a mother that was very present in my children’s lives,” Wanda Durant told me on Scoop B Radio Overtime.

Check Out Wanda Durant Chatting With Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson On Scoop B Radio Overtime.

She continued: 

“So I always knew who he was. His temperament is the same today as it was many years ago the thing that I’m really proud of and that I admire about him so much is that he is secure in who he is as a person. I’ve seen him become a giver and that’s a legacy that my family has held dear for many years, I see that he’s confident in himself I see that he is a leader he’s caring and loving but I’ve always seen these traits in Kevin, in both of my sons actually because those things were very important to me as a mother so I’m just grateful that, the foundation that I tried to lay in him that he also grabs hold to some of those really important things and made it apart of his foundation and now he’s building upon that. I’m really grateful to see the man that he has become.”

Suggested Articles:

The post Real MVP Wanda Durant On Kevin Durant: “I’m really grateful to see the man that he has become” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

With losing Kevin Durant in the off season, the Oklahoma City Thunder finally have something to look forward to for the upcoming NBA seasons.  The Thunder and Russell Westbrook had agreed to a three year extension for $85.7 million. This is a great sign for the Oklahoma City Thunder as it helps heal the wound that was created when Kevin Durant left to go to Golden State.  Does this make them a title contender again? No. However, it makes them a legit playoff team in the Western Conference.

As of right now, the starting lineup for the Oklahoma City Thunder is up in the air.  Most likely, three spots are already filled with Russell Westbrook starting at Point Guard, Victor Oladipo at shooting guard and Steven Adams at the center position.  More than likely, the starting power forward will probably be Ersan Ilyasova who is a legitimate rebounder and shooter.  With the small forward position up for grabs, it is complicated to possibly predict who will start at the number three spot. However, the team looks well balanced and legitimate for being a possible contender in the Western Conference for the 7th or 8th seed.  Unfortunately, that is a huge step down from the success the organization experienced last year. In the 2016 playoffs, the Thunder played the Golden State Warriors and lost in the Western Conference Finals. This year, they are looking to make the playoffs, however get knocked out early.

Even with the Oklahoma City Thunder being subjected to a less successful year, there is one thing the fans can look forward to, rebuilding. This extension can be a catalyst for a rebuilding process for the optimistic Oklahoma City organization. It opens opportunities for other role players to join this organization and possibly make a huge impact. With Kevin Durant gone, the Oklahoma City Thunder freed up cap space for other players to join.  With the ferocious game that Russell Westbrook plays on a nightly basis, free agents would be attracted to play with the point guard and the great organization.  Right now, the Thunder are not looking to accomplish much due to a lack of superstar presence and being located in the stacked Western Conference.  However, the future of the franchise looks bright.  

Suggested Articles:

RESPECT. The Track: Tomas Doncker – “Church is Burning Down”

Braxton Family Values: Season 5 Episode 12 ‘Trick Thy Sister’ [Weekly Recap]

The post Oklahoma City, You Can Breathe Now! appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.