SALT LAKE CITY — For those sports aficionados, Detroit Pistons rookie guard Jaden Ivey has a strong Texas connection.
Ivey’s grandfather, the late James Hunter, was an all-state football and basketball player in Silsbee, TX, which is located in Southeast Texas. Hunter went on to become an All-American cornerback at Grambling State University in Grambling, LA.
Hunter also was the 10th overall pick of the 1976 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, whom he played for during the ’76-’82 seasons. In addition, Hunter led the Lions in interceptions in ’76, ’77 and ’80, and was chosen to the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie team in 1976, and in 2020 he was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
Ivey, who was the fifth overall pick of last summer’s NBA Draft after playing two seasons at Purdue, said the speed which he exhibits on the basketball court, he got it from his grandfather.
“My grandfather obviously played with the Lions, and he’s the reason I feel like l’m here right now today being able to represent him at the highest level,” Ivey said. “I always dream of being in the NBA and it makes it even more special I get to play in the city where my grandfather was in for so many years.
“He was a legend in the city (of Detroit). Regardless of football, what he did for the city of Detroit, the foundations that he has, and just the love that he had for the city is definitely special.”
In addition to his grandfather, Ivey’s mother, Niele Ivey, was an All-American guard at Notre Dame, played five seasons in the WNBA – including for the Detroit Shock – and is currently the head coach of the Notre Dame women’s basketball team.
Also, Ivey’s father, Javin Hunter, was an NFL wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens (2002-’05) and San Francisco 49ers (2006). And now, it’s Jaden Ivey’s turn to be at the star table.
“It’s a blessing just to be able to be here this weekend and in this atmosphere,” said Ivey, who played in Friday’s Rising Stars. “I can remember a couple of years back my mom took me to the All-Star game in Chicago and I was watching the young stars like Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. and Luka (Doncic) and guys like that who were in the Rising Stars, and I always wanted to play in this event.
“To have an opportunity to do that, I’m very blessed. And to be able to represent my family and the Pistons’ organization and everyone back home, I’m just super blessed.”
WILL THE DUNK CONTEST BE BETTER?: A lot of folks were critical of last year’s slam dunk contest, but New Orleans Pelicans second-year forward Trey Murphy III hopes to breathe new life into the popular event.
“Save (the dunk contest), per say?,” Murphy asked. “Nope. I’m not thinking about anything else but just making my dunks, having fun out there and being loose.
“I feel like a lot of times guys get out there and they be just tight and might be a little nervous. But at the end of the day it’s just playing basketball. It’s not that big of a deal.”
Kenyon Martin Jr. (Houston Rockets), Jericho Sims (New York Knicks), Mac McClung (Philadelphia 76ers) and Murphy are the four players in this year’s dunk contest, which is Saturday at 8 p.m. And all four of those players have a Texas connection.
Sims played for Texas (2017-21), McClung played for Texas Tech (2020-21) and Murphy played for Rice (2018-20). Meanwhile, Martin’s father — Kenyon Martin Sr. — graduated from Dallas Bryan Adams High School in 1996, was the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA by the New Jersey Nets in 2000, played in the NBA from 2000-’15, and was an All-Star in 2004.
NOWITZKI IN THE HALL OF FAME: Former Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki was officially named as a finalist for the Class of 2023 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. The enshrinement festivities will be held Aug. 11-12 in Springfield, MA.
Joining Nowitzki in the Class of 2023 include Tony Parker, Dwyane Wade, Pau Gasol, Greg Popovich, Marian Washington, Becky Hammon, Gary Blair, Jennifer Azzi, Gene Keady, David Hixon and Gene Bess.
After being drafted in 1998, Nowitzki played his entire career with the Mavs, winding up his stellar career in 2019. Nowitzki led the Mavs to the NBA title in 2011 and also won the league’s Most Valuable Player award in 2007.
IS JORDAN OR LEBRON THE G.O.A.T.?: So much has been made about whether Michael Jordan and LeBron James is the G.O.A.T. That question was put to Toronto Raptors’ forward Scottie Barnes, and he stumbling through an answer by saying:
“You’re putting me in an argument? I don’t know. They’re both really good, they’re both top two. I love Michaele Jordan, but I wasn’t really born when he was playing. But you just see the things that you see online. He was incredible.
“He was a killer on the court, he had all the aspects of the game that you needed. He’s a legend. They’re both different players.”
BRIEFLY: Dallas Mavericks guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will practice Saturday and play in Sunday’s All-Star game, which starts at 7:30 p.m. Team captains Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James will draft their roster about 90 minutes before the start of the game. . New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado drilled a three-pointer to lead Team Pau Gasol to a 25-20 win over Team Joakim Noah in Friday’s Rising Stars game at Vivint Arena. Alvarado was name the game’s Most Valuable Player. . .Michael Jordan turned 60 years old on Friday. Scottie Pippen Sr., Jordan and the Chicago Bulls went to the NBA Finals in 1991, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97 and ’98, and won the championship in all six of those seasons. Pippen’s son, Scottie Pippen Jr., wasn’t born until Nov. 10, 2000. But he’s heard of the way his father and Jordan dominated the NBA back in the day. “Growing up, to hear when (Jordan) and my dad played together is definitely a cool experience having one of the greatest players of all-time be someone that was cool with your da
d and played with your dad,” Pippen said. “Just being around the Bulls and seeing them is definitely something that people wished they could be a part of. But Happy Birthday to him, also.”. .The last time the NBA All-Star game was in Salt L:ake City was 1993. . .Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley played in the Rising Stars Challenge and is very excited that his teammate, Donovan Mitchell, will be playing in Sunday’s All-Star game. Mitchell played the first years of his NBA career for the Utah Jazz before they traded him to the Cavs last summer. Now, Mitchell returns to the city where he was an All-Star the past three seasons. “He’s coming back here, back to where he played, and I know he’s having fun,” Mobley said. “It’s going to be a cool experience for him playing. Also, just playing with him for the Cavs, he’s fit in very well — very fast as well — and he’s making an impact right away, so it’s been fun.”. .Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes was asked if Florida had the best basketball players in the country. A native of West Palm Beach, Fla., Barnes said: “There’s a lot of great hoopers in California, Dallas and Florida.”. .San Antonio Spurs rookie forward Jeremy Sochan has been keeping close tabs on his alma mater — the Baylor Bears. At one point this season the Bears were ranked No. 1 in the nation, but now they’re ranked ninth. “It’s been ups and downs, but I think overall they’ve been good, especially recently,” Sochan said. “The only way is up. Every type of season there’s going to be ups and downs. I think they’re finding their way and their rhythm, and they have a great team, great guards, great bigs, great forwards.” Sochan only played last season for Baylor before declaring for the NBA Draft and getting drafted ninth overall last summer by the Spurs. The year before Sochan played for Baylor, the Bears captured the 2021 NCAA title with a 28-2 record. But he also believe Baylor would have won it all in 2000. However, that season was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “I think they would have gone back-to-back,” Sochan said. “That (2019-20) team was scary, for sure.’
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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