Latest news with #KevinGarnett
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
39-Year-Old Michael Jordan Was Torching Kevin Garnett - Proving He'd Be Unstoppable In Today's NBA
39-Year-Old Michael Jordan Was Torching Kevin Garnett - Proving He'd Be Unstoppable In Today's NBA originally appeared on Fadeaway World. At 39 years old, well past the age when most NBA stars hang it up, Michael Jordan was still cooking one of the best defenders of his era: Kevin Garnett. During his time with the Washington Wizards, Jordan delivered a scorching stretch against the Minnesota Timberwolves, scoring on four straight possessions with a surgical combination of skill, strength, and poise. It was a glimpse of why Jordan's game, even at nearly 40, would dominate today's NBA without question. The first bucket was classic MJ: a simple screen at the left wing created just enough separation, and Jordan rose for a mid-range jumper that hit nothing but net. The next play, he caught the ball on the left side, drove hard into the lane, and laid it in over the Wolves' help defense, absorbing contact and still finishing. Then came the explosion. Jordan blew by Garnett with a tight first step and threw down a thunderous one-handed dunk, electrifying the crowd and turning back the clock. And he wasn't done. Jordan caught it on the wing next, backed down his man, rose up, and nailed a contested fadeaway jumper, the very shot that became his signature move. To cap it off, he then came off an inbounds play, pulled up from mid-range once more, and drew a foul. In a span of minutes, 39-year-old Michael Jordan lit up a defense led by Kevin Garnett, a Defensive Player of the Year, perennial All-Star, and one of the most versatile bigs in history. Now imagine that version of Jordan, but in today's NBA. In the modern league, Jordan wouldn't be fighting through packed paint or clutch-and-grab defenders every possession. He'd have elite spacing, more transition opportunities, and wide-open mid-range lanes thanks to spread pick-and-rolls. With defenses now more focused on guarding the three and protecting the rim, the mid-range game is often left open, and no one ever mastered it like Jordan. He would punish drop coverage, annihilate soft switches, and feast on smaller wings who can't match his strength or footwork. The one knock people love to bring up is his three-point shooting. But here's the truth: Jordan improved his range as he aged, shooting 37% from three in the 1995-96 season. He didn't need to take a high volume because the game wasn't built that way, but he could adapt, just like all-time greats do. With modern spacing and shot development, MJ would be more than competent from deep, especially with how open today's looks are. In any era, greatness rises. And watching a 39-year-old Jordan torch Kevin Garnett is all the proof anyone needs. Prime MJ in today's league? That's 35 points a night minimum with surgical footwork, deadly mid-range mastery, and enough swagger to dominate every single story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Hollywood meets NBA hardwood: A look inside the rise of the Summer League Film Festival
While Bronny James and other young talent were lighting up the NBA Summer League court in Las Vegas, another game was being played just a few steps away: One with scripts, storyboards and studio buzz. Inside the Thomas & Mack Center, just as the league wrapped up Sunday, a different kind of crowd formed. Hollywood execs, producers and curious power players were slipping away from the basketball action to catch a slate of 34 film projects created by NBA stars past and present. More than just film screenings, it's an emerging playground where sports and the art of storytelling collide. From baseline to backlot, the Summer League Film Festival is generating off-court buzz — with the likes of Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett, actor-producer Mark Wahlberg and filmmaker Deon Taylor joining the mix. Conversations are building on turning this three-day showcase into a launchpad for athlete-filmmakers, backed by film industry veterans who understand both the creative and business sides of shaping ideas and grooming projects for the screen. 'This definitely has legs,' said retired NBA player Stacey Augmon after previewing 'UNLV: Kings of Vegas,' a documentary chronicling the untold story of the Runnin' Rebels in the Strip View Pavilion. A 10-minute clip was screened before a packed audience, including Sundance Film Festival director Michelle Satter and production companies like the Wahlberg co-owned Unrealistic Ideas and Alcon Entertainment, the company behind 'The Book of Eli' and 'Blade Runner 2049.' Like other entries, the 'Kings of Vegas' team showcased select footage, including interviews with high-profile names such as Snoop Dogg, Chuck D and Jimmy Kimmel, alongside UNLV legends Augmon, Larry Johnson, Greg Anthony and others. After the screening, the producers and cast discussed the film's origins, drawing a standing ovation from the crowd. The documentary remains in development, but Augmon says the film festival is already proving its worth. 'This gives us another great avenue,' said Augmon, who played on the Runnin' Rebels team that won the 1990 NCAA championship before his 15-season NBA career. His college teammate, Anderson Hunt, said sharing their authentic, real-life stories offer a major advantage like never before, unlocking new pathways to getting their projects financed and sold. 'We have control of what's coming out,' Hunt said. 'People might know about our stories through the internet. But stuff like this takes our platform to the next level. This is great for us, and Deon is like a golden child.' From hardwood to Hollywood The festival spotlighted stories produced by NBA stars past and present including Nikola Jokic, Luguentz Dort, Tony Allen, Nate Robinson, Kyle Anderson, Cole Anthony, Keyon Dooling and Udonis Haslem. Deon and Roxanne Avent Taylor of Hidden Empire Film Group were tapped to infuse the festival with seasoned filmmaking expertise, helping bridge the worlds of sports and entertainment. He played a key role in encouraging Hollywood insiders to show up, especially during the NBA Summer League's final stretch to keep the closing days as enticing as opening week. Taylor credited NBA Summer League co-founder Albert Hall for having the foresight to spark the collaboration. 'This is all invaluable,' said Hall, who cofounded the league with Warren LeGarie in 2004. 'The players make money, no doubt about it. They invest in these projects. But they don't really know what the system can provide or how to approach it. Kind of like a young executive getting into the sport or a young player trying to be seen and get exposure. It's the same way. They have to be coached up.' Hall said the partnership with Hidden Empire was a natural next step following their successful collaboration with the NFL and Skydance Sports, where they led film training sessions in March for more than 20 current and former NFL players. He added that having Wahlberg and Archie Gips of Unrealistic Ideas on board brings more industry muscle to strengthen the initiative and help drive it forward. Taylor said the festival is a door opener for the athletes. 'It's a gateway for athletes to share their art, do their art and be creative without anyone questioning them,' said Taylor, director of 'Black and Blue,' 'The Intruder, 'Meet the Blacks' and 'Fatale.' A former basketball player in East Germany turned independent filmmaker, he said true artistry requires neither a film school nor a Hollywood pedigree. 'The greatest artists are the ones that draw, create, build, shoot in the face of negativity and who paint pictures of what they see in the times that they live in,' Taylor said. 'You can only do that if you live in this culture. You can do that if you've lived and experienced it. You can't do that from a high-rise building with no pain. These guys come from adversity in life and sports.' Is the film fest worth the buzz? EverWonder Studio president Michael Antinoro certainly thinks so, and then some. He sees the film festival as more than a one-off spectacle in Las Vegas. In Antinoro's eyes, it could become the Oscars of athlete-driven storytelling with satellite versions popping up in the NBA arenas throughout the season. He sees value in helping standout projects secure the final funding and reach the right distributors. 'If we can add any value, we're in the rooms talking to all the networks and streamers that distributes films,' said Antinoro, a founding partner of the studio, which specializes in nonfiction content, documentaries and live events. The company served as co-executive producer on 'Defiant: The Manny Pacquiao Obsession' in 2019 and produced projects featuring Mike Tyson and Brett Favre. 'We're talking to them a lot. It's all about exposure,' he said. 'Some of these films maybe need a little more money just to get them over the line. If it makes sense, we can play a little there too.' How can Sundance play a role? For Michelle Satter, it's all about fostering a supportive creative community. She sees promising potential in what's taking shape at the Summer League Film Festival. While it's still early, Satter can envision a future where projects from the festival eventually find their way into Sundance. 'Why not? Of course,' said Satter, a founding figure at Sundance since 1981. She now serves as the founding senior director of Sundance Institute's artist programs. She's exploring how it might support the festival after being invited by Taylor. Sundance already has an existing partnership with Taylor's Hidden Empire. She called the opportunity to collaborate on this new venture both exciting and aligned with Sundance's mission to uplift emerging voices in storytelling. Satter's late son, Michael Latt, had his documentary short 'Hoops, Hopes & Dreams' premiere at Sundance early this year. She said Sundance gets about 15,000 short film submissions each year, but there's room for compelling storytelling that opens up new perspective from an athlete's lens. 'That was the power of storytelling, the unity of sports and bringing people together in community,' she said. 'I love the idea. These are the stories people need to see. They need to be out there in the world.'
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Hollywood meets NBA hardwood: A look inside the rise of the Summer League Film Festival
LAS VEGAS (AP) — While Bronny James and other young talent were lighting up the NBA Summer League court in Las Vegas, another game was being played just a few steps away: One with scripts, storyboards and studio buzz. Inside the Thomas & Mack Center, just as the league wrapped up Sunday, a different kind of crowd formed. Hollywood execs, producers and curious power players were slipping away from the basketball action to catch a slate of 34 film projects created by NBA stars past and present. More than just film screenings, it's an emerging playground where sports and the art of storytelling collide. From baseline to backlot, the Summer League Film Festival is generating off-court buzz — with the likes of Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett, actor-producer Mark Wahlberg and filmmaker Deon Taylor joining the mix. Conversations are building on turning this three-day showcase into a launchpad for athlete-filmmakers, backed by film industry veterans who understand both the creative and business sides of shaping ideas and grooming projects for the screen. 'This definitely has legs,' said retired NBA player Stacey Augmon after previewing 'UNLV: Kings of Vegas,' a documentary chronicling the untold story of the Runnin' Rebels in the Strip View Pavilion. A 10-minute clip was screened before a packed audience, including Sundance Film Festival director Michelle Satter and production companies like the Wahlberg co-owned Unrealistic Ideas and Alcon Entertainment, the company behind 'The Book of Eli' and 'Blade Runner 2049.' Like other entries, the 'Kings of Vegas' team showcased select footage, including interviews with high-profile names such as Snoop Dogg, Chuck D and Jimmy Kimmel, alongside UNLV legends Augmon, Larry Johnson, Greg Anthony and others. After the screening, the producers and cast discussed the film's origins, drawing a standing ovation from the crowd. The documentary remains in development, but Augmon says the film festival is already proving its worth. 'This gives us another great avenue,' said Augmon, who played on the Runnin' Rebels team that won the 1990 NCAA championship before his 15-season NBA career. His college teammate, Anderson Hunt, said sharing their authentic, real-life stories offer a major advantage like never before, unlocking new pathways to getting their projects financed and sold. 'We have control of what's coming out,' Hunt said. 'People might know about our stories through the internet. But stuff like this takes our platform to the next level. This is great for us, and Deon is like a golden child.' From hardwood to Hollywood The festival spotlighted stories produced by NBA stars past and present including Nikola Jokic, Luguentz Dort, Tony Allen, Nate Robinson, Kyle Anderson, Cole Anthony, Keyon Dooling and Udonis Haslem. Deon and Roxanne Avent Taylor of Hidden Empire Film Group were tapped to infuse the festival with seasoned filmmaking expertise, helping bridge the worlds of sports and entertainment. He played a key role in encouraging Hollywood insiders to show up, especially during the NBA Summer League's final stretch to keep the closing days as enticing as opening week. Taylor credited NBA Summer League co-founder Albert Hall for having the foresight to spark the collaboration. 'This is all invaluable,' said Hall, who cofounded the league with Warren LeGarie in 2004. 'The players make money, no doubt about it. They invest in these projects. But they don't really know what the system can provide or how to approach it. Kind of like a young executive getting into the sport or a young player trying to be seen and get exposure. It's the same way. They have to be coached up.' Hall said the partnership with Hidden Empire was a natural next step following their successful collaboration with the NFL and Skydance Sports, where they led film training sessions in March for more than 20 current and former NFL players. He added that having Wahlberg and Archie Gips of Unrealistic Ideas on board brings more industry muscle to strengthen the initiative and help drive it forward. Taylor said the festival is a door opener for the athletes. 'It's a gateway for athletes to share their art, do their art and be creative without anyone questioning them,' said Taylor, director of 'Black and Blue,' 'The Intruder, 'Meet the Blacks' and 'Fatale.' A former basketball player in East Germany turned independent filmmaker, he said true artistry requires neither a film school nor a Hollywood pedigree. 'The greatest artists are the ones that draw, create, build, shoot in the face of negativity and who paint pictures of what they see in the times that they live in,' Taylor said. 'You can only do that if you live in this culture. You can do that if you've lived and experienced it. You can't do that from a high-rise building with no pain. These guys come from adversity in life and sports.' Is the film fest worth the buzz? EverWonder Studio president Michael Antinoro certainly thinks so, and then some. He sees the film festival as more than a one-off spectacle in Las Vegas. In Antinoro's eyes, it could become the Oscars of athlete-driven storytelling with satellite versions popping up in the NBA arenas throughout the season. He sees value in helping standout projects secure the final funding and reach the right distributors. 'If we can add any value, we're in the rooms talking to all the networks and streamers that distributes films,' said Antinoro, a founding partner of the studio, which specializes in nonfiction content, documentaries and live events. The company served as co-executive producer on 'Defiant: The Manny Pacquiao Obsession' in 2019 and produced projects featuring Mike Tyson and Brett Favre. 'We're talking to them a lot. It's all about exposure,' he said. 'Some of these films maybe need a little more money just to get them over the line. If it makes sense, we can play a little there too.' How can Sundance play a role? For Michelle Satter, it's all about fostering a supportive creative community. She sees promising potential in what's taking shape at the Summer League Film Festival. While it's still early, Satter can envision a future where projects from the festival eventually find their way into Sundance. 'Why not? Of course,' said Satter, a founding figure at Sundance since 1981. She now serves as the founding senior director of Sundance Institute's artist programs. She's exploring how it might support the festival after being invited by Taylor. Sundance already has an existing partnership with Taylor's Hidden Empire. She called the opportunity to collaborate on this new venture both exciting and aligned with Sundance's mission to uplift emerging voices in storytelling. Satter's late son, Michael Latt, had his documentary short 'Hoops, Hopes & Dreams' premiere at Sundance early this year. She said Sundance gets about 15,000 short film submissions each year, but there's room for compelling storytelling that opens up new perspective from an athlete's lens. 'That was the power of storytelling, the unity of sports and bringing people together in community,' she said. 'I love the idea. These are the stories people need to see. They need to be out there in the world.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
"Steve Nash came to me and was very disappointed" - Kevin Garnett on why he turned down going to the Phoenix Suns before being traded to the Boston Celtics
"Steve Nash came to me and was very disappointed" - Kevin Garnett on why he turned down going to the Phoenix Suns before being traded to the Boston Celtics originally appeared on Basketball Network. In the summer of 2007, Kevin Garnett stood at a crossroads. One eye was still on his loyalty to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the other staring into the future, which seemed more uncertain than ever. It's easy to draw a straight line from his eventual championship with the Boston Celtics to that period of reflection and quiet strategy, but in real time, the choices were neither clear nor easy. There were no guarantees; it was just franchises trying to sell a dream and one of the game's fiercest competitors trying to protect what remained of his prime. After twelve seasons with the Timberwolves, seasons filled with MVP-caliber performances, grueling playoff exits and a franchise that could never seem to find the second star, Garnett finally reached the conclusion that the window in Minnesota was sealed shut. Phoenix's pitch Teams began to circle, offering promises, rosters and visions of championship gold; three franchises stood out in his mind, the Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns. For a moment, the Suns looked promising as they had the flash, but not the foundation. Garnett recalled that even before conversations got deep, there were cracks in the pitch as they were financially hesitant. "Steve Nash came to me and was very disappointed," Garnett said. "He also apologized on behalf of Phoenix and ownership and he was very, very, very deliberate about how much he wanted to play with me." The intent from Nash was real. But the call revealed the truth that Phoenix didn't want to admit out loud. The Suns of that era were basketball's version of a high-speed symphony. With Nash orchestrating one of the most explosive offenses the league had ever seen, Phoenix had become the darling of the mid-2000s, a team that ran, gunned and dazzled. On paper, pairing Garnett's defensive dominance and veteran grit with Nash's precision playmaking seemed like a dream. But beneath the surface, the structure wasn't as stable as it appeared. Garnett, in the final stretch of his peak, wasn't just looking for a new team; he was looking for assurance. The Suns, under then-owner Robert Sarver, couldn't provide that. Nash had to deliver the news himself; not only would the former MVP have to take a pay cut to make things work in Phoenix, but the core pieces he wanted around him, players that would allow him to contend immediately, wouldn't be retained. It was a no-win scenario. That left Garnett with a decision that required more than just basketball logic. It was legacy arithmetic. There was no need to go to Phoenix if he got there and the roster had been gutted and there was no point in changing jerseys if the result was another season carrying too much on his Boston With Phoenix fading from the picture, the focus shifted. The Lakers had Kobe Bryant, still in his prime, and they too were in pursuit. It would've been the fusion of two generational forces, Bryant and Garnett, both burning with the same relentless hunger for validation through rings. But complications on that front stalled and talks didn't advance the way many expected. Boston, on the other hand, came armed with a plan. Danny Ainge, then the team's president of basketball operation had already begun reshaping the Celtics, orchestrating a move for Ray Allen and setting the table for a new era. What separated the franchise was opportunity and preparation. They weren't offering Garnett a chance to figure it out once he arrived. They were presenting a complete package. Paul Pierce was already in place. Allen had joined. And they were willing to give up nearly everything else to make sure Garnett completed the trifecta. The Timberwolves had to accept that Garnett, with free agency looming, had control. He'd done too much for Minnesota to be discarded like a disposable asset. He'd earned the right to guide his exit, and he knew it. The Wolves could either send him where he wanted or watch him walk for nothing. That leverage wasn't used recklessly; it was wielded with precision. Boston, knowing what was at stake, offered a rare clarity. They were all in. There would be no half-measures. Garnett didn't have to wonder about ownership commitment, front-office vision, or roster depth. The pieces were there. The strategy was real. And most importantly, he believed in the fabric of the team being built. They ended up winning the championship in Garnett's first season, his only story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
NBA Summer League brings hoops, and Kevin Garnett assists with film festival
LAS VEGAS — If he had an unlimited budget — a Steven Spielberg-esque budget — Kevin Garnett would go in any number of directions cinematically. 'My friend, his nickname is Waterhead,' Garnett began on the phone before beginning again, perhaps contemplating what kind of project could best explain Waterhead's life. 'I would like to have a 'Narcos,' kind of — well, I watch a lot of documentaries. One of my favorite documentaries is 'The Men Who Built America.' It's five to six different people: Carnegie, Vanderbilt, names that we would know, Rockefeller. A bunch of names from yesteryear that made the jump, have made the way. … 'The second thing I would probably do is a Black 'Entourage.' I'd do a LeBron [James] comes to the league out of high school, and he has three or four friends with him, and they enter the league, like, boom. Nobody to better know that story than myself, which I find comical. You can tell some interesting tales and watch the growth of a player, a young man to a man, a player turning into the face of the league, having children himself, being a father. I just think that story is so dope to tell. Advertisement 'And, I'd also like to do something like 'Billions.' 'Billions' was one of my favorites. Like a 'Godfather,' one of the classics. I would love to do a Black 'Godfather,' showing the origins of a Black man and his rise. Almost like if you did like a Robert Smith, kind of dissecting his whole life, and the challenges he had to go upon, going all the way back to his parents. … and you can't forget about the low-life stories, too.' The Hall of Famer is determined to be as great in the storytelling space through his Content Kings Studios production company as he was during his 21-year NBA career — highlighted by a 2008 title with the Boston Celtics, as well as being one of only five players in league history to win both the league's Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards. (The others were Michael Jordan, David Robinson, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Hakeem Olajuwon — the only player to win both in the same season.) Garnett is now looking to give current players a chance to branch out into telling their own stories – through movies, podcasts, streaming and other entertainment options. And he'll do that this week at NBA Summer League, as part of the second annual Summer League Film Festival. Garnett is listed as a co-host for the event, which runs Thursday through Saturday at the Thomas and Mack Center, the annual co-home for Summer League games, along with the connected Cox Pavilion. 'I've lived a dope life,' Garnett said. 'I've lived a crazy life, both up and down. And I'm very humbled and very blessed to be sitting here, speaking on a lot of things, to be able to have survived a lot of things to speak on. I think a lot of young people are going to scripts. When you hear me go into storytelling or talking about something, it's because I'm trying to give some type of path to some lost m—f— or a little, young, lost m—f— that don't know their way. 'We need that. We forget that we need a script, or we need an example sometimes. It helps.' A post shared by NBA Summer League (@nbasummerleague) The SLFF is the latest innovation from Las Vegas Summer League co-founders Warren LeGarie and Albert Hall to make the 11-day event — already a haven for hardcore basketball fans — about more than just the games. Actor/producer Mark Wahlberg is lending his name to the festival, as well, with multiple screenings through the final day of summer league. Advertisement More than 30 projects will be part of this year's festival, including documentary shorts that detail, among other subjects, the circumstances and communities that raised the likes of Nikola Jokić in Serbia, Luguentz Dort in Montreal and Udonis Haslem in Miami. Having an extra 3,000 to 5,000 people who might not come through during the second week of summer league — as most teams shut down their top prospects after the first few games — is a modest goal. 'It's also to expand the experience here,' LeGarie said. 'In order to keep it fresh, you can't just keep doing the same thing and hope that people think Febrese is enough. It isn't. You still have to bring some fresh excitement. More importantly, summer league is about storytelling. What better way to tell your story than with film? And also, it's a social media marketplace.' Among the films that will be screened at the festival: Garnett was one of the producers of the well-received Showtime documentary 'Goliath,' which focuses on the life of Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain. Content Kings, co-founded by Garnett, Brian Bennett and Mike Marangu, is involved with multiple productions, specializing in IP development, production and post-production services. 'Being able to connect the OGs from the past and the kids today, Kevin's that ultimate bridge,' Marangu said. 'As he always says, you're looking at it through a new lens. His OGs were Hakeem, Jordan, (Charles) Barkley. These young kids now, they can't see past the Kobe years. Just being that bridge, being that ambassador, that's not just sports, entertainment, business … it's a new wave, and he's the ultimate person who lived that and still appreciates what happened back then, and also appreciates these young kids now. 'As we were looking at the film festival opportunity, there's just so much that these kids want to do in the media space and don't know how. … There's a career path. You can be a pro at something else.' Advertisement Garnett had a well-received turn in front of the camera in Adam Sandler's 'Uncut Gems' in 2019, playing himself as an unwitting witness to Sandler's degenerate gambler's spiral. He estimates followers got only about '60 percent' of his actual personality during his post-playing stint hosting 'Area 21,' and his segments on TNT's 'Inside the NBA' that ran for a few seasons. A post shared by Marcadorrd (@marcadorrd) Garnett's not looking to become a movie star in this next stage of life. He wants to become a collaborator and conduit for other athletes looking to define themselves to the world through film and video. Putting his name with the film festival is a way of giving back to the next generation. 'Anybody and everybody that knows me knows I'm a bet on myself. I'm gonna bet on my team,' Garnett said. 'I'm not afraid to step outside of my box and do something that other people haven't tried. Just because somebody else tried it and failed doesn't mean you're going to fail. The first thing I want everybody to know is that seeing is believing. … When it's in your heart, it's in your heart. If you're in production, if you've got a vision and you want to do something for yourself, you can go out here and do it. Garnett considers what he does 'a real business for me.' He wants to be a resource for those looking to do streaming and production. He is 'putting a flag in the ground' for those wanting to develop. The film festival is the perfect place to showcase that talent. 'Anybody, any players that come to our festival, they can say, 'Ah, s—, Big Fella did this; I can do my version of this. I can get my story out here, that I can own and build content while I'm a rookie,'' he said. 'When I was young, I didn't really say a lot. I don't think the league and the world gave me any credit for the knowledge that I had. … There's a lot of s—- that I don't even look to take credit (for). It's part of the craft; it's part of the wave.'
