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For 3 a long time we’ve coated many superb basketball characters, however some stand above the remainder—not solely due to their on-court abilities (although these are at all times related), however due to how they influenced and proceed to affect basketball tradition, and thus influenced SLAM. In the meantime, SLAM has additionally modified these gamers’ lives in numerous methods, as we’ve documented their careers with traditional covers, legendary pictures, superb tales, compelling movies and extra.
We compiled a bunch of people (programming notice: 30 entries, not 30 individuals complete) who imply one thing particular to SLAM and to our viewers. Learn the full list here and order your copy of SLAM 248, the place this listing was initially revealed, here.
The thought for SLAM got here to me someday in early 1994. A pal of mine prompt I make a hip-hop basketball journal. This gentle bulb second grew to become a lot brighter that evening, and I revealed the primary problem of SLAM three months later. The remainder is historical past—30 years later, it’s surreal to me that it has survived this lengthy.
Have in mind, there was no web again then—SLAM was the basketball web. The world is way totally different now, however what continues to blow my thoughts to today is what number of occasions individuals come as much as me to say how a lot SLAM influenced their lives. It feels good each time I hear that.
Let’s return to 1994 in New York Metropolis, the place all of it started. Cory Johnson, the founding editor of SLAM, and I started to plan out that legendary first problem. Larry Johnson can be on the duvet, and we had options on Jason Kidd, Rodrick Rhodes and playground legend Joe Hammond, a column on Felipe Lopez, SLAMadamonth and our first PUNKS story on Steve Wojciechowski. Nobody had seen a sports activities journal like this. When you had been fortunate sufficient to purchase that premiere problem on a newsstand, then you’re formally an authentic member of the SLAM Fam.
Then we had been on to Concern 2. Enter Stephon Marbury—the primary of some gamers who would assist outline SLAM by the years. I’ve been following HS basketball since I noticed Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) play in highschool. And in case you adopted highschool hoops within the ’90s and lived in NYC, you recognize everybody was speaking about Stephon Marbury from Lincoln HS in Brooklyn. The Marburys had been New York Metropolis’s first hoops household. There have been three Marbury brothers who got here earlier than Stephon, and now it was his flip to be the primary Marbury to get to the NBA. The strain was actual, however you’ll by no means comprehend it from watching Stephon play. He was the most effective level guard since four-time All-Metropolis participant Kenny Anderson. He needed to be in SLAM.
Stephon appeared in two articles in Concern 2 (the one with Shawn Kemp on the duvet). The primary was for our inaugural SLAM Excessive Faculty All-American group. Stephon made it as a junior, alongside one other junior, Kevin Garnett, and seniors Felipe Lopez, Raef LaFrentz and Jerod Ward. Plus, for our first-ever trend shoot, we needed to function Stephon and his teammates at Lincoln. SLAM dug up some hoop attire for the Lincoln gamers to put on like they do in GQ. Fortunately, Coach Bobby Hartstein was open to the concept, as insane because it was.
The SLAM group packed up our cameras and subwayed (no Ubers again then) out to Coney Island. That is the primary time I met Stephon, and I’ll always remember it. Once we arrived at Lincoln, the principal directed us to his class. Steph was sitting within the entrance row rocking a POLO hoodie with a recent haircut in his signature type. We shook arms and simply clicked. We bonded instantly round basketball and what it meant to each of us. Wanting again, I’m certain we each had no concept how it will form our lives in so some ways. Steph represented a brand new era of hoopers influenced by hip-hop that solely SLAM might perceive. The photograph shoot went down with no hitch. If you wish to see the unfold, try the SLAM Digital Archive and search for “Faculty Daze” in Concern 2. Not precisely GQ, however manner forward of its time for any sports activities journal.
Stephon continued to play a distinguished position in our early days. He was the primary SLAM Excessive Faculty Diarist, which started in SLAM 4 (the John Starks cowl—our first actual cowl shoot). I went on to observe most of his video games his senior yr at Lincoln and noticed him lastly win his first NYC PSAL championship on the Backyard. He was Mr. Basketball in New York. I noticed him announce his dedication to Georgia Tech after which watched him go head-to-head in opposition to Allen Iverson at MSG. I used to be on the 1996 NBA Draft when he was picked fourth by the Bucks after which traded to the Timberwolves to group up with KG. The Marbury household had lastly made it to the NBA (for the document, 1996 is definitely the best NBA Draft class ever). SLAM continued to develop with each problem, and Stephon was on just a few extra covers alongside the way in which. He had a fantastic however underappreciated NBA profession. He ended up enjoying in China, the place he received three rings. Go watch the documentary A Child from Coney Island if you’d like the total story.
Stephon and I communicate or textual content possibly annually. I used to be simply texting with him whereas he was in China. He posted a photograph on Instagram of him working a clinic. He had his head down, dribbling together with his left hand, going laborious to the ring. The identical patented transfer from Lincoln that solely Stephon can do. I acknowledged it instantly and DMed him: “I do know that transfer.” He replied: “Large bro, you recognize since you noticed it reside.” If you recognize, you recognize.
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