Paul George and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Credit: Eric Salvary/Get Fit Radio TV

RESPECT Magazine’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson chatted with Ben Troupe and B.J. Bennett on Southern Georgia’s ESPN Coastal “Three and Out.” Press Play Below To Listen!

The NBA season is here and we’ve seen a ton of injuries. The Boston Celtics’ Gordon Hayward and Brooklyn Nets’ Jeremy Lin are done for the season and the Houston Rockets’ Chris Paul is sidelined for two to four weeks.

Kyrie Irving and LeBron James embrace after Tuesday’s opening night at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo Credit: USA Today

Lonzo Ball did not come out hot in his debut at Staples Center against the Los Angeles Clippers and LeBron James and the new look Cleveland Cavaliers had something to prove in their home opener against former Cavalier, Kyrie Irving. Carmelo Anthony got revenge with his new team the Oklahoma City Thunder. He and his new teammates, Paul George and Russell Westbrook aided the former Knick in his victory over his old team.  Also click here to find out why I believe the Knicks should still retire Carmelo Anthony’s jersey.

My picks for this season:

6th Man of the Year: Lou Williams, Houston Rockets

Most Improved Player of the Year: Jusuf Nurkic, Portland Blazers

Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gorbert, Utah Jazz

Coach of the Year: Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics

Rookie of the Year: De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings

MVP: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

NBA Finals: Cavs vs. Warriors (Cavs win in 6)

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The post Scoop B: OKC Thunder’s Paul George & Russell Westbrook, The Cavs & More With ESPN’s Ben Troupe & B.J. Bennett appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

While on Scoop B Radio Overtime, boxer Bernard Hopkins chats with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson about some of his favorite fashion influences. Photo Provided By: Eric Salvary/Scoop Vision Media

Bernard Hopkins made statements in the boxing ring and out of it. When he talks, goshdarnit please listen! Now a boxing analyst on ESPN’s family of networks, Hopkins dons a lot of suits and the now retired 55-8 Philadelphia bruiser known in the the ring as The Executioner traded in his boxing trunks and morphed into Mr. Suave in front of the teleprompter.

Not mad at you brotha! 

“I love fashion, I love to look good, I love to feel good and definitely love to perform good,” Bernard Hopkins told me on Scoop B Radio Overtime. “It’s a 3-punch combination that to me; that’s something that should be taught when you’re really young, but better late than never, but I love fashion.”

Check out Bernard Hopkins and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson’s Fashion Discussion

In today’s sports world, fans and writers alike like to put things into boxes and category. In basketball for example many like to compare Michael Jordan’s legacy to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James. In the late 90s in baseball, folks were wondering who the homerun king was Mark McGwire or Sammy Sosa and in boxing folks want the ultimate heavyweight in Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson. Here’s a kicker for Bernard Hopkins: Who is on his Mount Rushmore of stylishly dressed athletes? Well I could look at– well like Magic Johnson,” Hopkins said after a brief pause.

Related Content – Bernard Hopkins Chats with Scoop B About Nelson Mandela

“There’s a lot of like, I could say basketball and football athletes that dress really good, but nobody really like stands out, you know? Deion Sanders is kinda like, loud and I don’t really like that style but a lot of people – he was like- he made statements whether you disagree or didn’t. He made statements.”

Sanders’ gear with MCHammer in the video of Straight To My Feet was legendary, by the way!

If you’re a tad young, that song was on the Street Fighter movie soundtrack

Many credit Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James as sports’ elite dressers. Honestly, the Brooklyn Nets’ Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and D’Angelo Russell are rising notables too. But back to a certain Cleveland Cavalier; Mr. Hopkins, do you dig LeBron James’ digs?

“I think LeBron has a style,” he said. “But it’s like you see somebody else wearing the same thing.

Hopkins also has advice for athletes looking to leave their mark in fashion: Be yourself! 

“I think when you look at fashion you gotta look at: does it go with your skin? Does it go with your physique? Does it go with your whole persona about you,” he said. “I think that when it comes to clothes and I’m getting a little deep, I think that when it comes to wearing a suit or clothes, women or man, it has to fit your personality. I don’t care how much it costs, I don’t care what name brand it is, if the clothes don’t fit your personality you don’t make it blossom.” 

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The post Scoop B: Bernard Hopkins Puts Magic Johnson & Deion Sanders On His Mount Rushmore of Fashionable Athletes appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Jawun Evans and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson chat about tonight’s NBA Draft. Photo Credit: Eric Salvary

In the 90s, Aaliyah made a song called ‘Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number.’ In the NBA, height shouldn’t be either. Oklahoma State point guard Jawun Evans will enter the NBA Draft this season after a successful sophomore year.

Evans averaged 19.2 PPG, 6.4 AST, 3.4 REB and 1.8 STL.

Today’s NBA point guard is about 6’4. At 6 feet, some could argue that Evans is not qualified, but his ability is there. So, I don’t buy it. This past NBA season debunked that myth too. The King of the Fourth Quarter, Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas made it work. At 5-11. Thomas turned heads this season when he dropped a smidge under 29 points per game and a shade under 6 assists per game.

Now everybody is a fan of the little guy, including Evans. 

Jawun Evans checked in with me at Conversion Sports and Entertainment’s 8th Annual Official Pre-Draft Gifting & Style SuitePress Room. and talked Thomas Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson talking shop ahead of the 2017 NBA Draft.

We also discussed Russell Westbrook.

Check out Jawun Evans and Scoop B on Scoop B Radio

Check out Jawun Evans’ college highlights

By the way, Conversion Sports’ Gifting Suite was laid impeccably. The room had everything, by the way. You name it: Wahl Clippers, FuelBox, Casper Sleep, Sean John, Triple 5 Soul, WJC Private Aviation, Reinge Clothing, Sutton Cosmetic Dentristry, So Hoodie, Cadillac, AGMG Services and more.

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The post Scoop B: Oklahoma State’s Jawun Evans Talks NBA Draft, Isaiah Thomas & Russell Westbrook appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Above The Rim Podcast’s Justlin Lee welcomes Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson to the taping of his show in Brooklyn, New York. Photo Credit: Fred Ennette Scoop Vision Media

If you want scholarly hoops talks mixed with pop culture and conversation about hoops from the past and present, Justin Lee is your guy! The Above The Rim Podcast, recorded in the great borough of Brooklyn is the scene of the crime, and Lee, better known to the hoops world as Jus Blaze holds court on his weekly podcast which analyzes the NBA landscape while also featuring guests giving their opinions.

I appeared on episode 11 of Above The Rim Podcast and discussed round 1 of the 2017 NBA Playoffs, Clyde Drexler, Larry Johnson and the Charlotte Hornets and the New York Knicks and Phil Jackson’s growing Carmelo Anthony saga. We also discussed Lance Stephenson’s return to the Indiana Pacers and the notion that Paul George may be the second best player in the NBA’s Eastern Conference behind LeBron James. Is a New Jersey Nets’ Jason Kidd in his prime better than the Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook? Can the Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics ever rise out of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ shadow? Are the Atlanta Hawks with the combo of Paul Millsap and Dwight Howard competitive enough? Will the Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul and Blake Griffin finally get over the Western Conference Playoffs doldrums?

Oh yeah there’s also Joe Johnson talk!! 

You’ll love the conversation! Above The Rim Podcast is surely an NBA Podcast for the everyday fan!

Check It Out Below! 

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The post Scoop B: Talking Hoops, Catching Up With Justin Lee & Above The Rim Podcast 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.  

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

Yesterday morning (July 4), Kevin Durant made one of the biggest decisions he’s ever made in his career, let alone life. His decision to leave the city of Oklahoma behind, held much more deeper meaning than presumed. It was time for Durant’s personal growth and legacy as a person to keep benefits in life. However, his decision leaves behind his teammate, Russell Westbrook.

Shortly after Durant made his decision, GM Sam Presti communicated with Westbrook via text messages. It was decided, Westbrook would continue to hold down the rebuild of the OKC program.

“He’s a true leader that takes it on… And I think he’ll take this on as well,” Presti said.

Westbrook put up incredible numbers all season long last year, and that’s likely not to cease as he moves into next season.

23.5 per-game, 7.8 rebounds per-game, 10.4 assists per-game, are some pretty awesome numbers that Westbrook put up last year. Westbrook is in the last year of his contract. What the season after the forthcoming one looks like for OKC, that’s not of a concern at the moment.

“We’ve always shown we’re not going to be deterred. We’re going to continue to advance.”

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The post Russell Westbrook Will Stay in Oklahoma City appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Durant’s curse has been the longest drawn out and received the most media attention, especially after he and the Thunder lost to the Golden State Warriors recently. However, all of Lil’ B’s  beef and mystical forces have been put to the side after the former Oklahoma City star made his move to the Bay Area earlier today! Lil’ B even welcomed KD home in a tweet!

KD’s move to the Warriors has seriously broken the internet since the news was revealed. It seems like people are totally for it or completely against it. There is no middle ground. This might be an even bigger upset than LeBron James taking his talent’s to South Beach!

Regardless of all of the controversy swirling around social media, I say let the man live! Lil’B has, why can’t you!? Next basketball season will be here in a few months and after all the switching up of players, it is guaranteed to be an interesting set of events. Shut up and wait until these new team dynamics show us what they can and can’t do.

Congrats to Kevin Durant for the awesome trade and for finally being curse free!

*Cooks*

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The post Lil B Pardons Kevin Durant of the Based God Curse appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.