From the Entertainer’s Basketball Classic at Rucker Park to Watson, West 4th, Goodman League, LES Express, and Chi League I take great pleasure in creating my shots from the sidelines of summertime hoops. The Drew League has a reputation for drawing the NBA’s elite and for many of them, including the likes of MVP James Harden, Ben Simmons, and DeMar DeRozan, it’s not merely about playing or putting on a show, but winning. The fact that the league brings out that competitive drive in the best of the best is a testament to its greatness.
Former NBA stud Cuttino “Cat” Mobley works from the post in the 2018 Drew League championship game.
Shaunie O’Neal, 9th Wonder, Rapsody, Scottie Pippen, and the Black Mamba himself, Kobe Bryant, sat courtside for the culminating game of arguably the greatest summer league in the world. Just a couple months away from his 43rd birthday Cuttino “Cat” Mobley was the leader and focal point of his team’s offense and he looked like he hadn’t skipped a beat from his playing days with the LA Clippers. The game was exciting throughout as Redemption made a late run to snatch the 2018 trophy and bragging rights for the year.
Kobe Bryant sits courtside at the 2018 Drew League championship game in Los Angeles, CA.
With some time on my hands before my flight home, I was honored to connect with Drew League’s commissioner Dino Smiley. Mr. Smiley was kind enough to take me to two of the previous venues for the Drew League before it outgrew each of those facilities. He shared legendary stories and graciously allowed me to take a portrait of him in a closet from which he used to sell snacks in the infancy of the league decades ago.
Drew League commissioner Mr. Smiley gave me the honor of showing me around some of the historic Drew League venues. He told me about the impact the league has had on the community and how he used to sign teams in, keep score, and sell snacks to keep the league alive. Here he is in the closet just a few feet from the sideline behind where the team benches used to live and from where he would sell refreshments to raise money for the league.
Kobe Bryant encourages Cuttino Mobley from the sidelines of the Drew League championship.
I hope I get to spend more time at the Drew League next summer. Seeing all the highlights on Instagram and YouTube had me amped to roam the sidelines.
