Truth & Rumors > NBA
Top NBA pickup games in L.A.
This summer my mission was to discover the five best public places to play pickup hoops in Greater Los Angeles. My top five basketball spots, based on a combination of athletic talent, aesthetic visuals and sheer entertainment are: 1. UCLA, 2. Santa Monica College, 3. Venice Beach, 4. Marine Park in Santa Monica, 5. Laguna Beach. Legends who might show up at UCLA Student Activities Center, a.k.a. the old Men's Gym include Paul Pierce, Baron Davis and Kevin Garnett. These contests have been going on since Magic Johnson began playing here during the Lakers' Showtime era. UCLA players, walk-ons and All-Americans throughout the country come here to play in one of the nation's most devastating pickup games and test their talents against some of the best the NBA has to offer. The gym is jam-packed with adoring fans. Camera in one hand, Sharpie pen in the other, hundreds of kids line the two parallel courts. Emeka Okafor, Kevin Love, O.J. Mayo, Tyson Chandler and Russell Westbrook might be there flying down the floor with speed and power most fans have never seen from so close.
Baron Davis, Chris Graythen/Getty Images
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Comments (22) Add A Comment
This is cool, but how is this a T&R? It doesn't make sense.
G.O.A.T. is back?
Scranton, PA
Total Comments (12359)
Wow this is called lack of reporting...
ahung: The Last…
Santa Clara , CA
Total Comments (2775)
Top Five Places for Groupies to Find Love....
Coco
San Marcio, CA
Total Comments (556)
the lack of news is really annoying me
drMcNinja
Philadelphia , PA
Total Comments (369)
I spent many days (and some nights) on the courts at Venice Beach. This however isn't news, but it's the offseason. I can give them the benefit of the doubt.
Hllywd: Old…
Columbus , OH
Total Comments (7930)
the lack of news is really annoying me
What? Aren't you tired of the B Favre updates? OR... President George Bush thinks about a career in Europe playing pro basketball??? OR.... Clippers trade Scott Nobdoby for two third round draft picks. OR.. Ronaldo wants to play for the LA Galaxy.. OR...
Coco
San Marcio, CA
Total Comments (556)
"This is cool, but how is this a T&R?..."
G.O.A.T. | 08/10/08, 10:37 AM
_______________________
It's cool, that's how!
Drunk Eli
Huntington Beach, CA
Total Comments (4051)
Scott Nobody deal is huge....i want more reporting on that situation
sportskid7
Parkston, SD
Total Comments (18)
slow news day
Vaughn9
Total Comments (4428)
what did one of the nba players report this.
Joe Dew
Idaho Falls , ID
Total Comments (8095)
I think I'll stick to the Olympics - savvy ???
Mike C. 1927
Total Comments (4753)
Bostonians should take note that Celtics players come out to Laker territory to train during the offseason, not vice versa. While you have players from all over the country - including active Celtics players - coming out to Venice and LA, it is unheard of for Laker players - or for any professional players in general - to say "let's go out to Boston to play pick up games".
- JL
Mr.Jay
San Jose , CA
Total Comments (1538)
Boston in the summer................what a bummer.
Strategicals
Total Comments (39)
thought the best pick up games were in China right now.
Vaughn9
Total Comments (4428)
Bostonians should take note that Celtics players come out to Laker territory to train during the offseason, not vice versa. While you have players from all over the country - including active Celtics players - coming out to Venice and LA, it is unheard of for Laker players - or for any professional players in general - to say "let's go out to Boston to play pick up games".
- JL
Jay L. | 08/11/08, 03:43 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Very true - they only "come to Boston" to win real championships !!!
Mike C. 1927
Total Comments (4753)
A Friend. The first one in like 30 years? Now that's a great track record.
CelticHater
Total Comments (159)
Very true - they only "come to Boston" to win real championships !!!
A Friend | 08/11/08, 11:28 AM
oh yeah ...... like CelticHater said....it took them long enough to win another one.....while Los Angelinos live to play for championships.....
mic'
Total Comments (729)
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