To show 'em what you've got on the playgrounds of NYC: how's that feel?

Sporting News, The, August 4, 2003 by Andre Barrett

Whenever you step on a New York City playground, you always feel like you've got to prove some thing because no one fears you. New York is loaded with players who have great talent, even if you don't know much about them. They may have messed up in life and not gotten the chance to play in college, but they can play ball.

One thing about the playground: They want to test your manhood, and they want to see if you will continue to play once you get hurt. That's a sign of toughness to players in New York. If they put you on your behind, they want to see if you're going to get back up and keep playing or hack down and go home.

Players are used to being pampered in college and in the pros. It's not like that on the playground. You might have a ball with no air. You're playing on concrete. You're playing in the heat. You play with chain nets. You have, like, a film on your hands from playing outside. But you can't make any excuses. People expect you to play like you do on TV.

In the Big East, the play is more structured. Guys have specific roles, play defense, rebound, set picks. But on the playground, everybody wants to show their overall game and not be limited. In the park, you play loose; you're playing pickup ball. But there's a lot of pride on defense, too. Nobody wants to get exposed out there.

My father started taking me to the playgrounds when I was 2, and I'd watch him play. I started going on my own when I was 11 or 12. I've played at playgrounds all over the city, but the best place to play is Rucker Park in Harlem.

Bleachers surround the court, and the park is packed for every game. People are climbing on the gates trying to see the games. Nearby, there's a walkway next to a train station, and people will watch from the platform. People go up on the roof of the projects nearby and watch from there. The games are a big deal.

There's a tournament there every summer called the Entertainer's Classic, and even NBA players come and play. Last year, I played against Stephon Marbury. He came out and started talking trash to see if I'd back down, but he realized I wasn't scared. Just being there, you know you're a ballplayer already, but when I hit my first 3, I was like, "Yeah!" I got into my comfort zone. In the end, Steph and I gave each other five and had great respect for each other's game.