If Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady is talking basketball, you should pay attention.
When he announced he was launching his Ones Basketball League, many thought it was just another celebrity-driven league.
How wrong those skeptics were.
When I spoke with McGrady leading up to OBL’s launch, he told me it wasn’t about celebrity at all.
“It’s not a gimmick,” McGrady told me. “We’re sticking to the essence of what basketball is- individual talent and skills.”
I got to see the tournament in person when the OBL arrived in Brooklyn over Memorial Day weekend, and it was definitely refreshing to see how serious the competitors took it.
OBL features fast-paced action, with early-round games played to seven.
In the beginning, players showcased their dribbling skills and Steph Curry-like range.
But as the games progressed, legs started to wobble and stamina became a factor.
And that’s when it got even better.
McGrady has identified the need for individual talents and skill sets to return to a game that is relying more on shooting range than driving to the basket.
It’s not about going full And1 Hot Sauce or trying to draw the “Ooos” and “Ahhs” from the crowd.
The Ones Basketball League focuses on who can fight through differences in height, physicality, exhaustion and a grueling weekend of games to be king of a region.
The games are not just for bragging rights.
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