Spencer Gervase 🏀 retweeted
Coaches, take care of yourself.
When you give so much to others, you need to make sure you give to yourself too.
Spencer Gervase 🏀 retweeted
Gary Payton says he taught Kobe his secrets because Kobe asked him to teach him, despite knowing he would use that information against him for the rest of his career
“Kobe was already different. He was a different kid. I was about 10 or 11 years into the NBA at the time, and Kobe didn’t have a fear of asking anybody how to get better.”
“He came by me and was like, ‘Big bro, you be doing this and that. I really want to learn this because of you.’ When he said that, that took something in my heart. A kid with his ability, knowing where he was going, really wanted to learn, and he didn’t have an ego.”
“I didn’t mind. I didn’t care about him knowing how to do it and stop it because if he knows it, it makes me better too. Because I gave him the game, now I’ve got to learn how to stop him. I’ve got to show him something else.”
“It didn’t really bother me, and me and him got so tight. Especially when I went to the Lakers and was mentoring him, we got really, really tight.”
Spencer Gervase 🏀 retweeted
Shaquille O’Neal says he wanted $150 million to sign with the Lakers, but Jerry West offered $120 million plus movie deals that brought the package to $180 million
“Jerry West met me in a hotel. He said, ‘I got some good news and some bad news.’ I said, ‘What’s the bad news?’ He said, ‘I can’t get you to 150 million you asked for, but I can get you 120 million, and I got some movie deals signed up for you that’ll come out to about 180 million.’ And I said, ‘Shit, let me see the contract.’ He showed me the contract, and I’ve never seen so many zeros in my life”
“My first contract was 40 million. When I seen that 120 million for 7 years with the option after three to renew… And as I’m signing, he puts his hand on my shoulder. He said, ‘Let me tell you something. I just got this kid, in two or three years, you and him are going to win a lot of championships.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, okay,’ because I’m trying to sign. He was talking about Kobe”
(via @fullsendpodcast ft. @shaq)
"He's Mr. Triple Double of his generation."
👏 209 career triple-doubles (NBA record)
👏 42 triple-doubles in 2016-17 (single-season record)
👏 11 straight triple-doubles in 2019 (longest streak ever)
👏 4 seasons averaging a triple-double (NBA record)
👏 2nd player ever to average a triple-double in a season
Congrats on retirement to the TRIPLE-DOUBLE KING, @russwest44!
Spencer Gervase 🏀 retweeted
I remember asking assistant coach Mo Cheeks, what’s harder to do? Workout after practice or before?? I only asked cuz by time I would get to the gym, Russ was already done in the morning and I usually got mine in after practice. Mo like, “coming in before practice is probably harder”…since then, it’s been my routine….a lot of people looked at the emotions on the court and thought Russ was loud, nah to me, he was quiet and methodical. He lead by example and once the lights were bright, he let everything out and experienced pure freedom. It was inspiring as his teammate and everywhere I went, I seen it inspire people from all walks of life, crazy thing is, he didn’t say much, he just showed up. For 18 years. This basketball life is sacred to us as professionals, what we put into that court means everything. Some of us wish we could go back and do things with a little more intent and some can just wipe their hands and be satisfied with the time spent. Who u gonna be? We know what zero was on…keep inspiring in the next phase of life champ. I don’t care what happens, can’t erase what it was…The first YNs, finals run in our early 20s, all star games, seeing each other get injured and bounce back, the bus rides, plane rides, card games, jokes and arguments, the whole thing, memorable!! …to the whole Westbrook family, Nina, the kids, mama Westbrook, big Russ, Ray, Donnell, everybody from luezinger high and ucla and many more that I’m forgettin, much love and Congratulations on a iconic career.
Spencer Gervase 🏀 retweeted
NBA G League teams hold open tryouts before each season in search of local talent to add to their rosters 🔥
Five teams have already announced open tryouts for this season 👀
Spencer Gervase 🏀 retweeted
Derek Fisher on LeBron joining Philadelphia:
“You aren’t ring chasing when you’re the guy creating the rings.”
(via @TheFanLA, h/t @WITNESSKJ)
Spencer Gervase 🏀 retweeted
If you can't name everyone in this photo, you don't really know basketball 🤷♂️
Spencer Gervase 🏀 retweeted
Dan Hurley: "We've had the second most amount of players drafted in the last 4,5 years, but we also have National Championships to show for it and Finals appearances to show for it. We don't hang our hats on just getting our guys to the NBA or just getting to championship games. We're able to do both..."