You ain't lying. Some of those games ( I got drafted by the Blazers) a nikka felt legit sorry for myself. Steph would talk some shyt before the game and once tip off came, I'm trying to get Lillard to switch off. I'm trying to guard Klay Thompson Dammit!
We all get that reality check. I'm six foot even, six foot eight wingspan, wasn't afraid to go in the jungle with the men to get my points. You don't get respect if you are scared to go to the hole. Athletically, I was good too. Dunking, the whole nine. My perception of myself changed when I played with two guys. Their names are Jason Carter and Malachi Allen from GI. Malachi ultimately played overseas and for college, he went to Middle Tennessee State. A pick up game at Tolleston Middle School. I throw up an oop, my pass was a little off the mark because I threw it from beyond half court. The defender took it out of the air but in the same motion, Malachi took it from him and still completed the dunk. That moment left a profound mark on me because it was and to this day, one of the most amazing athletic feats that I've seen live.
I saved Jason Carter for last. I went to school with Jammal Davis, all state his senior year. Went to Purdue, transferred JuCo then a Cincinnati Bearcat for Bob Huggins. Anyways, Jason was a prodigy but shyt like taking care of his dad, he has to try for a fifth year of eligibility for high school. His mind was so far away from the court but when he was on it, it was way too easy for him. He ended up at the University of Hawaii. He was 5'9" with a redikk vertical. He was doing Vince Carter shyt on the playground before I saw Vince Carter doing Vince Carter shyt in the NBA. He's coming down on the break, you are thinking layup to block. No, he shot up like a fukking rocket and did some shyt on people like 360s in their face, just like the defense wasn't even there. He was the first person I've ever seen do the alley oop windmill. I was just happy to dunk reverse and a nikka shorter than me was doing Isaiah Rider dunks and shyt, in game and on people.
While Hannah Storm and Ahmad Rashad had a nikka wanting to be on NBA Inside Stuff during those days, those harsh realities on the courts make me realize it was time to go a different route
afterwards.
Here is a great article on Jason Carter by the way.
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2002/Oct/10/sp/sp01a.html