Stars like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Derrick Rose played in the Philippines over the weekend, and made hundreds of thousands for their trouble. If they're smart, this weekend was just the beginning. Plus: the best part of the new CBA, pimpin as an NCAA violation, remembering Amy Winehouse, and the legend of Black Superman.
Kobe Bryant has been at the center of rumors all summer long, most of which center on the possibility of him spending next season playing for the Besitkas basketball club in Turkey. On that front, a meeting on July 30th should go a long way toward deciding his future.
But after seeing some of the footage from an All-Star NBA exhibition in the Philippines this past week, you can't help but wonder why. Or, why not? As in, why not just play in the Philippines?
It's a stage that'd broaden stars' marketing appeal throughout Asia, and clearly, there's a longstanding addiction to basketball and basketball superstars. It's not just an opportunity to play elsewhere; as far as the Philippines is concerned, it's an opportunity to play somewhere you'll absolutely love.
The enigmatic McGee relentlessly dazzled the crowd, who was yearning for something more than textbook layins and jumpshots, with the Statue-of-Liberty dunk after the other.
“So much love in Manila. Hope to comeback soon, ” said McGee.
Like McGee, Tyreke Evans and Derrick Williams, amazed with the patented Filipino hospitality, are already thinking about going back before even leaving the country.
“Hope y’all had as much fun as we did! Thank you all again! We will be back,” said Williams, the second overall pick in this year’s draft who hasn’t even played a single NBA game yet.
“I would definitely come back and do a basketball camp. It would be my pleasure,” tweeted Evans, the 2010 Rookie of the Year from Sacramento Kings.
Even the legendary LA Lakers guard Derek Fisher, who also got a warm reception from the overzealous crowd, described his experience short and sound.
“Amazing, wasn’t it?” Fisher said.
'Fear the Beard' James Harden
While all of them more than willingly put on a show, James Harden surely gained more fans in this side of the world for his comical and truly accommodating attitude.
Harden easily posed for photos, danced at the sidelines, and astonished with countless slams which the crowd responded to with “fear the beard” cries.
“Game was Amazing! Shouts out to Manila Philippines for allowing us to visit and the hospitality!” Harden said.
In fact, Williams and Harden fell in love with the city too much that they had the guts to brave the usually-crowded mall Greenhills for last minute shopping spree, something some of Filipinos couldn’t even stand.
“At the mall today. Crazy! The mall was like ‘James Harden..James harden..Can I touch your hand, that’s all I want. Hahaha,” tweeted the seemingly amazed Williams.
Not as crazy as during the actual exhibition games though.
As the fans lined up for hours under the heat just to score Standing Room Only tickets with a coliseum filled to the brim, it was a simple but downright affirmation that the Philippines will always be a basketball-crazy nation.
And with the ardent reception they laid out to their basketball gods, the Philippines and the Filipinos fans will be the talk of the town among the NBA players for quite some time.
“It’s been a tremendous honor to play here,” said the five-time champion Bryant.
“Thank your for the love and support that you have in the sport. It was our first time playing here, hopefully this won’t be the last,” Bryant finished.
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