| BASKETBALL
Create-N-Finish Update |
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| 2008 NBA All-Star Special Edition |
February 2008 |
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This film will be playing one night and one night only. February 16th, 2008 at 8pm live on TNT from the New Orleans Arena.
Watch and creatively name each of Gerald's dunks. Submit your dunk names to us by February 20. We will pick our 100 favorite submissions to win a Go Vertical tshirt. Remember, you must name EACH of his dunks for your submission to count. |
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Hello basketball standout,
We thought we would be festive and put together a special all-star issue as a preview to this weekend's NBA All-Star activities in New Orleans. We hope that the events bring some positive energy and goodwill while providing an economic boost to a Louisiana region still trying to recover from the effects of Hurricane Katrina.
Reebok is excited to have four players participating in the weekend events with Allen Iverson and Yao Ming voted as starters on the Western Conference team, Gerald Green defending his slam dunk title and Rajon Rondo showing why he is the "Ultimate Creator" in the Rookie- Sophomore Challenge.
We are still keeping hope alive that Baron Davis will get a last minute call from the commissioner to participate in the game. Now I am not suggesting that any of the guards selected in front of Mr. Too Easy do not deserve it. But just imagine the type of show "Boom-Dizzle" would put on for his former New Orleans' fans. For those of you who don't know, Baron is the type of dude that will ball "Anytime-Anywhere". Whether it's the Drew League in South Central or outside at Venice Beach, he is always ready to drop 30. So the simple thought of Baron one-on-one with D-Wade or J-Kidd trying to check him with no help defense would be unbelievable to watch. We are keeping our fingers crossed.
Please enjoy the information inside this issue and maybe you will learn a few things you didn't know about all-star weekend. Until next month, good luck in the play-offs and make your next game your best game.
Create-N-Finish,
Christopher Rivers |
We would like to invite guests, 21 years and older, to join us at the House of Blues Foundation Room in New Orleans on Friday, February 15 from 3pm-6pm for food, drinks and gifts.
Hang with some of the best Creators and Finishers in the league, check out Reebok's limited edition all-star kicks and design your very own Question 3. | |
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Reebok's 2008 NBA All-Star Weekend Players |
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 Allen Iverson
AI has been voted an All-Star starter for the 8th time this year and has been an NBA All-Star MVP two times (2001, 2005). Currently, AI continues to run the break and give opposing guards nightmares in the Mile High city and is among the league leaders in points (27), assists (6.9), steals (2.2) and minutes (41.8).
Allen Iverson attended Georgetown and then was selected by Philadelphia with the top pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. He was named the 1997 Rookie of the Year.
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 Yao Ming
Yao was voted a starter for the 6th time and named to the All-NBA second team for the 2006-07 season. Yao is still holding it down in Houston where he was drafted as the 1st overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft. So far this season, Yao is averaging more than 21 points per game, 10.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks.
Yao is the tallest player in the NBA, at 7'6" and before the NBA was playing in China for the Shanghai Sharks. He will represent his home, China, this summer in the 2008 Olympics.
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 Gerald Green
Gerald is in his 3rd year playing for the NBA, drafted to the Celtics in 2005 and now playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Gerald grew up in Houston, TX where he played for John Eurey's Houston Superstars and Rick Nelson's Houston Elite and was drafted straight out of Gulf Shores Academy. During Gerald's high school career he was the 2004 All-Star MVP at the Reebok ABCD Camp and McDonald's All-American Dunk champ in 2005.
He is the 2007 NBA All-Star Dunk Champ and hopes to repeat in '08. Gerald's career high of 33 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists makes him a player to watch.
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 Rajon Rondo
Rajon joins the sophomores to play in the 2008 Rookie Challenge. Rajon is in his 2nd year in the NBA and is quietly the glue for the Celtics as they hold down the league's best record. Currently, he is averaging 10.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists , leading the NBA in steals per 48 minutes with 3.36. Rajon entered the 2006 NBA Draft after playing two years at Kentucky.
February has been a big month for Rajon's basketball career. Febuary 6 he had a career high 24 points in a victory against the LA Clippers and on Feburary 10 he had a career high 12 assists in a victory against the San Antonio Spurs.
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 Baron Davis
Baron was drafted 3rd in the 1999 NBA Draft after playing two seasons at UCLA. Baron, first drafted to the Charlotte Hornets, is currently trying to help the Golden State Warriors earn home court advantage in this year's playoffs where he is averaging 21.7 points, 2.5 steals and 8 assists.
Even though Baron was not selected to the 2008 NBA All-Star Team, he was voted to play for the East team in 2002 and 2004. He also has earned player of the week five times and recorded six triple-doubles.
Baron is the epitome of hard work and focus as he has overcome numerous injuries to become one of the league's finest players. |
Reebok All-Star Kicks
Gerald Green will be wearing a special version of the Reebok ATR Vertical III with a dunk sketch on the back and the message, Twice As Nice.
 Allen Iverson has 2 shoes, wearing each for one 1/2 of the All-Star Game. He will showcase the Question III and the Answer XI.
Rajon Rondo will represent the Boston Celtics wearing a one of a kind version of the Reebok ATR Vertical III.
 Yao will be in the Reebok ATR Elite II with a dragon wrapped around the shoe.
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| All-Star History
The first year the NBA All-Star game was played was 1951 in Boston, MA. That year the East defeated the West, 111-94. While not many believed that this type of game mid-season would succeed, the owner of the Celtics, Walter Brown, did. He told the league he would cover any expenses or losses, ending with 10,094 fans coming to watch the first ever all-star game.
The 2007 NBA All-Star game was held in Las Vegas, NV where the West dominated the East, 153-132, infront of 15,694 fans. Last year's game had celebrities like Jay-Z, Beyonce and Diddy sitting courtside with a half time show by Christina Aguilera and Toni Braxton. Walter Brown was right and this game has proved successful.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played in a record 19 All-Star games during his career
Wilt Chamberlain scored a record high of 42 in the 1962 All-Star game
Magic Johnson holds the assist record for 22 in the 1984 (OT) and 19 in the 1988 All-Star game
Bob Pettit has a rebound record of 27 in the 1962 All-Star game
Michael Jordan has an All-Star game career record of 262 points
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 The Original All-Star Game
For the first time in 42 years, America's original high school All-Star game will be missing from the list of post season competitions. Sonny Vaccaro's Roundball Classic will not be taking place this spring ending a run that started in 1965 to the dismay of many basketball fans in Chicago and across the country.
Having roots in Pittsburgh, PA as the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic, the game would make it's first of three moves after 28 years. First to Detroit, Michigan for seven years where Magic Johnson's fight against HIV became the charitable focus, then a brief appearance in Raleigh, NC, before making it's final home in Chicago, IL in 2001 thru 2007.
There are far too many current NBA Hall of Fame and collegiate players to mention who, along with their families, enjoyed the hospitality of Vaccaro and company.
Unfortunately, this year's 2008 high school graduating class will not be able to experience the first class treatment that became synonymous with every Roundball Classic affair which always included four meals per day, boat cruise dinners, formal banquets and fun for the entire family.
Players such as point guard Brandon Jennings (Belmont Shores/Oak Hill Academy) and shooting guard William Buford (D-1 Greyhounds/Toledo-Libby) that started their journeys to national prominence at the Reebok Camp Next will not be able to end their careers at center court of the United Center.
It's too early to predict whether Sonny will get that itch and bring the Roundball Classic back in 2009, but for those who know him well, we have come to expect the unexpected.
For information on the legacy that was left by the Roundball Classic visit The Original Roundball Classic.
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All-Stars for 2009 and 2010
With the 2008 NBA All-Star Game just a few days away, we thought it would be fun to take a look at what a national high school all-star weekend would look like if we could ever pull off such a feat.
Below are teams divided by Western Conference and Eastern Conference for each underclass year. If you feel like we gave you the "Baron Davis Snub" let us know. But if you are a big fan of high school basketball like we are, you have to admit, this would be a crazy weekend of hoops.
Enjoy!
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West |
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East |
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2009 |
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2009 |
| PG |
Abdul Gaddy, 6'4", Bellarmine Prep, Tacoma WA |
PG |
John Wall, 6'3", Word of God, Raliegh NC |
| PG |
Peyton Siva, 5'11", Franklin HS, Seattle WA |
PG |
Maalik Wayns, 6'2", Roman Catholic, Philadelphia PA |
| G |
Nolan Dennis, 6'5", Richland HS, Richland Hills TX |
G |
Dexter Strickland, 6'3", St. Patricks, Elizabeth NJ |
| WF |
Hollis Thompson, 6'7", Loyola HS, Los Angeles CA |
G |
Lorenzo Brown, 6'5", Centennial HS, Roswell GA |
| WF |
Jordan Hamilton, 6'7", Dominguez HS, Compton CA |
SG |
Lance Stephenson, 6'6", Lincoln HS, Brooklyn NY |
| F |
Jamil Wilson, 6'7", Horlick HS, Racine WI |
SG |
Kenny Boynton, 6'2", American Heritage, Plantation FL |
| F |
David Wear, 6'9", Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana CA |
F |
Xavier Henry, 6'6", Putnam City HS, Oklahoma City OK |
| F |
Travis Wear, 6'9", Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana CA |
F |
Ari Stewart, 6'7", Wheeler HS, Marietta GA |
| PF |
John Henson, 6'10", Round Rock HS, Round Rock TX |
F |
Isaiah Armwood, 6'9", Montrose Christian, Baltimore MD |
| PF |
Reeves Nelson, 6'7", Modesto Christian HS, Modesto CA |
PF |
Derrick Favors, 6'9", South Atlanta HS, Atlanta GA |
| PF |
Renardo Sidney, 6'10", Fairfax HS, Los Angeles CA |
PF |
DeShonte Riley, 6'11", Country Day, Detroit MI |
| C |
Daniel Orton, 6'9", Bishop McGuinness HS, Ok City OK |
C |
DeMarcus Cousins, 6'10", Leflore HS, Birmingham AL |
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| 2010 |
| 2010 |
| PG |
Kendall Williams, 6'2", Los Osos HS, R. Cucamonga CA |
PG |
Kendall Marshall, 6'3", Bishop O'Connell, Arlington VA |
| PG |
Gary Franklin, 6'0", Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana CA |
PG |
Joe Jackson, 5'10", White Station, Memphis TN |
| PG |
Ray McCallum, 6'1", Bloomington North, Bloomington IN |
PG |
Brandon Knight, 6'3", Pine Crest HS, Ft Lauderdale FL |
| SG |
Tyler Lamb, 6'5", Colony HS, Ontario CA |
G |
Trae Golden, 6'2", McEachern HS, Powder Springs GA |
| SG |
Trae Ziegler, 6'4", Mt Pleasant HS, Mount Pleasant MI |
G |
Dion Waiters, 6'2", South Kent School, Philadelphia PA |
| F |
Jereme Richmond, 6'6", Waukegan HS, Waukegan IL |
G |
Ralston Turner, 6'5", Muscle Shoals HS, Muscle Shoals AL |
| F |
DeShaun Thomas, 6'7", Bishop Luers HS, Ft Wayne IN |
WF |
Reggie Bullock, 6'5", Kinston HS, Kinston NC |
| PF |
Dwayne Polee, 6'8", Westchester HS, Los Angeles CA |
WF |
Jelan Kendrick, 6'5", South Atlanta Christian, Atlanta GA |
| PF |
Jared Sullinger, 6'6", Northland HS, Columbus OH |
F |
CJ Leslie, 6'9", Word of God, Raliegh NC |
| PF |
Joshua Smith, 6'9", Kentwood HS, Kent WA |
PF |
Tristan Thompson, 6'9", St. Benedicts, Newark NJ |
| C |
Jeremy Tyler, 6'10", San Diego HS, San Diego CA |
PF |
Dominique Ferguson, 6'9", Lawrence North HS, Indy IN |
| C |
Evan Anderson, 6'11", North HS, Eau Claire WI |
C |
Perry Jones, 6'10", Woodrow Wilson HS, Dallas TX |
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| 2011 |
| 2011 |
| PG |
Stephen Taylor, 5'8", Lincoln HS, Gahanna OH |
PG |
Trevor Lacy, 6'3", Butler HS, Huntsville AL |
| PG |
Matt Carlino, 6'3", Highland HS, Gilbert AZ |
PG |
Jamal Branch, 6'1", Atascocita HS, Humble TX |
| G |
Anthony Wroten Jr, 6'5", Garfield HS, Renton WA |
G |
Anthony Anderson, 6'4", Boca Raton HS, Boca Raton FL |
| G |
Jabari Brown, 6'3", Salesian HS, Richmond CA |
G |
Austin Rivers, 6'3", Winter Park HS, Winter Park FL |
| G |
Marques Teague, 6'0", Pike HS, Indianapolis IN |
F |
LaQuinton Ross, 6'7", Callaway HS, Jackson MS |
| F |
Wayne Blackshear, 6'5", M.S. Curie Metro, Chicago IL |
F |
LeBryan Nash, 6'7", Lincoln HS, Dallas TX |
| F |
Darius Nelson, 6'6", Sheldon HS, Sacramento CA |
F |
Michael Gilchrist, 6'6", St. Patricks, Elizabeth NJ |
| F |
Ramone Eaton, 6'8", Sheldon HS, Sacramento CA |
PF |
Bernard Sullivan, 6'7", North Mecklenburg, Huntersville NC |
| PF |
Michael Shaw, 6'8", De La Salle, Chicago IL |
PF |
Ryon Wiggins, 6'8" PF, Gwinnett Math & Science, Duluth GA |
| PF |
Damian Cain, 6'6", Harvard Westlake, Bel Air CA |
PF |
Aaron Ross, 6'6", Pulaski Academy, North Little Rock, AR |
| C |
Angelo Chol, 6'8", Hoover HS, San Diego CA |
PF |
Julian Royal, 6'7", Milton HS, Alpharetta GA |
| C |
Kyle Wiltjer, 6'8", Jesuit HS, Portland OR |
C |
Tyler Adams, 6'9", Brandon HS, Brandon MS | |
| Top 50 - Your Vote for 2008 McDonald's All-Americans
The 31st McDonald's All-American Game will be held Wednesday March 26, 2008 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Reebok will again serve as the official footwear and apparel sponsor for the game. With the complete roster set to be announced on February 19, we thought you would like a chance to select your own roster. Good luck to all of the players who made the final ballot and like you, we will anxiously be waiting to see who makes the final list.
| Pos |
First |
Last |
High School |
Ht/Wt |
College |
| SF |
Al-Farouq |
Aminu |
(Norcross HS) |
6-8/195 |
Committed to Wake Forest |
| PG |
Jerime |
Anderson |
(Canyon HS) |
6-1/165/17.2 |
Committed to UCLA |
| PF |
Luke |
Babbitt |
(Galena HS) |
6-8/215 |
Committed to Nevada |
| C |
Catalin |
Baciu |
(Veritas Christian Academy) |
7-0/225 |
Committed to Clemson |
| SG |
J'Covan |
Brown |
(Memorial HS) |
6-2/175 |
Committed to Texas |
| SG |
William |
Buford |
(Libbey HS) |
6-4/180/22.0 |
Committed to Ohio State |
| PF |
Ed |
Davis |
(Benedictine HS) |
6-8/215/22.0 |
Committed to North Carolina |
| SF |
Demar |
DeRozan |
(Compton HS) |
6-6/180/22.3 |
Committed to USC |
| C |
Michael |
Dunigan |
(Farragut Career Academy HS) |
6-9/240 |
Committed to Oregon |
| SF |
Devin |
Ebanks |
(St. Thomas More School) |
6-8/185 |
Committed to Indiana |
| SG |
Tyreke |
Evans |
(American Christian School) |
6-6/190/25.4 |
Louisville, Memphis, Connecticut, Texas, Villanova, North Carolina, Seton Hall |
| C |
Kenny |
Frease |
(Perry HS) |
6-11/245/18.0 |
Committed to Xavier |
| PF |
Angel |
Garcia |
(East Chicago Central HS) |
6-10/190 |
Committed to Memphis |
| PF |
Drew |
Gordon |
(Archbishop Mitty HS) |
6-9/237 |
Committed to UCLA |
| PF |
JaMychal |
Green |
(St. Jude HS) |
6-7.5/205 |
Committed to Alabama |
| SG |
Jrue |
Holiday |
(Campbell Hall) |
6-3/180/23.2 |
Committed to UCLA |
| SF |
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