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.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim dropped by Scoop B Radio. Photo Credit: Image: The Big Lead

Shareef Abdur-Rahim discusses the 1996 NBA Draft class with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson while on Scoop B Radio. Press Play Below to Listen!

Retired NBA All Star Shareef Abdur Rahim had a decent career averaging 18 points and 7 rebounds in 12 NBA seasons. Drafted with the third pick in the 1996 NBA Draft by the then-Vancouver Grizzlies, Abdur Rahim was an All NBA Rookie First Teamer.  

There was a glut of talent in that 1996 draft class that includes Hall of Famer, Allen Iverson and future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant.

Ray Allen, Steve Nash, Marcus Camby, Jermaine O’Neal, Antoine Walker, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Peja Stojakovic round out that list

Many remember SLAM Magazin’e’s iconic cover with those names.

“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 told me on Scoop B Radio.

While the ‘96 draft class was electrifying, so was the 1984 draft class that included mainstays like: Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon and John Stockton.

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

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

Abdur-Rahim acknowledges that there’s a lot of talent in ’84 and ’03.

But does he have a favorite?

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

Abdur Rahim would suit up for the Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings during his 12 year NBA career.

His best statistical season came during the lockout shortened 1998-99 season where he’d post 23 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 1 block per game.

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The post Shareef Abdur-Rahim says he ranks his ‘96 NBA Draft class over 1984 & 2003 NBA Draft classes appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Ray Allen plays the role of Jesus Shuttlesworth in the film He Got Game. Photo Credit: Quora

Nineteen years ago today, “He Got Game” debuted, and the world met Jake and Jesus Shuttlesworth.

The film, stars Ray Allen and Denzel Washington and keyed in on the life of Jesus Shuttlesworth, the basketball star of Brooklyn’s Lincoln High School. Jesus is the most sought after high school basketball prospect in the nation.

Denzel Washington plays the role of Jake Shuttlesworth, Jesus’ father.  Jesus’ story is overshadowed by his father who is doing a long bid in jail after accidentally killing Jesus’ mother.

Although in prison, Jake Shuttlesworth tries to earn himself an early release by talking his estranged son into playing basketball at the governor of New York’s alma mater, Big State University.

Simply put, Lee’s film gave the world a glimpse into the life of a blue chip athlete. 

Actor, Hill Harper not only played the role of cousin to Ray Allen in the “He Got Game” film, but he also played the role of his teammate on that Rail Splitters team. At the time of the film, Allen was in the early years of his career as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, but way back then, Harper knew that Allen had something special.

So what stood out?

“His work ethic,” Harper told me on Scoop B Radio.

Check Out Hill Harper Chat With Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Scoop B Radio 

“He had a work ethic. He was shooting and playing every day. He wanted to do well as far as the acting was concerned, wanted to do well as far as the basketball was concerned.”

Ray Allen went on to retire as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. He also won two championships with the Miami Heat during the big three era of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade on South Beach. Harper is not surprised by Allen’s success, in fact he saw it coming even on set.

“People that I know who are successful and have longevity, they have work ethics and it comes down to that and he obviously had that. When he was acting, he wanted to be the best that he could be. When he was playing ball, he wanted to be the very best that he could be.”

With a budget of 25 million, “He Got Game,” made  22.4 million in the box office. 

Check Out The Trailer

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The post Spike Lee Directed & Denzel Washington, Ray Allen Starred “He Got Game” Debuted 19 Years Ago Today appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 14: Marcos Rojo of Manchester United in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Queens Park Rangers at Old Trafford on September 14, 2014 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images)

Hey, did you know that Ray Allen can’t come to Rajon Rondo’s party?

Did you also know that Canyon Barry shoots underhanded free throws just like his father, Rick Barry?

Forget an ALS ice bucket challenge! Post Triple G’s fight at MSG, the Chicago Bulls’ Robin Lopez and the Toronto Raptors’ Serge Ibaka had a haymaker challenge in the 6!

You know what all of the above mentions mean, right?

Yup, they’re all part of the DJ Manny El produced Scoop’s Top Plays!

Pull up a chair, crank up the volume and enjoy ya’ll!

The post Scoop’s Top Plays With Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

In an acting career that extends over 20 years, in roles on CSI, Married With Children, HBO’s The Sopranos and more, hoop heads know him as Booger!

Booger was the impressionable cousin of Jesus Shuttlesworth in the film, He Got Game.

Check Out Hill Harper & Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson Chatting On Scoop B Radio

The film, stars Ray Allen and Denzel Washington and keyed in on the life of basketball star Jessus Shuttlesworth, of Brooklyn’s Lincoln High School. Lee’s film gave the world a glimpse into the life of a blue chip athlete.

Hill Harper not only played the role of cousin to Ray Allen in the He Got Game film, but he also played the role of his teammate on that Rail Splitters team. At the time of the film, Allen was in the early years of his career as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, but way back then, Harper knew that Allen had something special.

So what stood out?

“His work ethic,” Harper told me on Scoop B Radio. “He had a work ethic. He was shooting and playing every day. He wanted to do well as far as the acting was concerned, wanted to do well as far as the basketball was concerned.”

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The post “He Had A Work Ethic” – Hill Harper on Playing Alongside Young Ray Allen in ‘He Got Game’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Two time NBA champ and the top 3-point shooter in NBA history, Ray Allen, announced his retirement by writing a letter to his 13-year-old self in a post on The Players’ Tribune website.

Allen spent 18 seasons in the league and two years after his last game, he has finally decided to bow out. I have watched him play ever since I was a little kid. He’s my favorite NBA player and he really opened up to the world with this letter.

Over the coarse of his career, according to NBA.com, “he played in Milwaukee, Seattle, the Celtics and the Heat, averaging 18.9 points in 1,300 regular-season games and appearing in 10 All-Star games.”

Writing to his 13-year-old self, Allen talks to his younger self giving him advice and letting him know how his life will pan out. Digging deep into his military family household, he brings up being an outsider and always having to make new friends in different cities. But he always leads himself to the same place – the court.

“I write this to you as a 41-year-old man who is retiring from the game,” Allen said in the post. “I write to you as a man who is completely at peace with himself.”

He takes his readers on a journey through his life. About being told as a kid that he “talks like a white boy.” About how high school ball will be nothing like what he will go through at a D1 school like UConn. How his college coach Jim Calhoun will almost break his younger self, but make him into a better basketball player and person. How he will play alongside Hall of Famers like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. And of course, how he will win two championships – 1 playing for the Celtics and 1 for the Heat.

At the end of it all though, it’s not about the championships he wins or how many shots he makes, but about the work he puts in and the “same old boring habits.” He tells himself that “life is about the journey, not the destination. And that journey will change you as a person.”

Congratulations to a legend, the greatest shooter to play the game – Ray Allen.

To read his full letter, click here.

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The post Ray Allen Retires With a Letter to his Younger Self appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.