Turkey, Hoops, and Giving Back to the Community

BY Julio Manteiga

While most of the country was gathering with family and settling in for a Thanksgiving feast, our Legends were doing their part to do what they do best: promoting the game of basketball and giving back to their respective communities. Our Phoenix chapter was no different, taking part in a Turkey Day college hoops extravaganza and putting on an impressive clinic for over 100 youth from the Phoenix area.

Thanksgiving Day began with a college basketball double-header at ASU’s Mullett Arena presented by Intersport. Butler took on Northwestern in a nail biter that saw the Bulldogs emerge victorious 71-69, and then Mississippi State defeated UNLV 80-58 in the nightcap. The next day, the championship game between Butler and Mississippi State did not disappoint, as the Bulldogs won the tournament 87-77. 

However, the action on the court was not the only treat for fans in attendance. During both days of play, our Phoenix-area Legends were honored at center court much to the crowd’s delight. Among the Legends were Arizona State and NBA greats Fat Lever and “Jumping” Joe Caldwell, plus Jeff Malone (a Mississippi State alum) and Billy McKinney (a Northwestern alum), who was also calling the game for the Northwestern broadcast. As if that wasn’t enough, the locals were treated to two additional treats, as recent Naismith Hall of Fame inductee Doug Collins was in the house to support his son, Chris, who coaches the Northwestern squad, and WNBA star Caitlin Clark came to watch her boyfriend, an assistant on Butler’s staff. With these Legends and star power in the building, we all had one more wonderful reason to give thanks on this holiday. 

With the games concluded and the crowds heading home, it was time for the Phoenix chapter of the NBRPA to put on a show of their own. Led by Lever, the Phoenix chapter president, the Legends put on a Full Court Press basketball clinic for over 100 local youth on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. The Legends led the participants through various ball-handling, defensive, and rebounding drills and finished the event with an incredible discussion on life skills to showcase how the principles of sportsmanship, teamwork, and camaraderie can help you in life. To underscore the significance and impact of these clinics, there was even one participant whose father took part in a similar event when he was a young child, receiving instruction from Lever years ago when he was playing with the Denver Nuggets. Talk about a full circle moment – both father and son had received basketball instruction from Fat years apart. We are all sure that the story will be shared with their family for years to come. 

Like so many of our Legends do on an annual basis, these giants of the game continue to give back to their communities during the holiday season, make lasting memories for everyone they encounter, and provide direction to the future Legends of the game. For so many, this past Thanksgiving is a holiday to remember – all thanks to our Legends.

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