Image via Complex Original
Who says the NBA lockout means no basketball from the league's best players? And no, we don't mean everyone and their agent rushing overseas. We're talking about summer basketball camps. These camps are essential for any aspiring baller. All the greats have made their names at these camps and they've also hosted them or have made appearances (for a small fee) to school young'ns. In the last couple years, there has also been an influx of YouTube Summer Camp clips documenting wins and fails. We touch on everything from LeBron's Dunkgate tape to T-Mac's legendary run at ABCD. So, in spirit of the NBA lockout allowing our favorite players to get their runs in at camp, we present the Greatest Moments in Summer Basketball Camp History...
12. D-Wade Doesn't Love The Kids
YEAR: July 2011
CAMP: Dwyane Wade All-Star Basketball Camp (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
COMPLEX SAYS: Have these guys no shame? At first it looks like D-Wade is trying his best not to make a shot, and then, out of nowhere he tells that little kid: "FOH, with that!" Then dude just sabotages shot after shot. With no regard for human life! *Kevin Harlan voice*
11. Kobe vs. Bow Wow
YEAR: July 2011
CAMP: Kobe Basketball Academy (Santa Barbara, Calif.)
COMPLEX SAYS: We learned two things from this video: Kobe Bryant abuses children and Bow Wow is a philanthropist. They made a $1,000 bet on a one-on-one game and Kobe spotted the lil guy 10 points. Needless to say, it didn't end well for Bow Wow; he lost two grand when it was all said and done. Did Mamba really have to post-up 5-foot-7 Bow Wow on every possession? Yes and we loved every moment of it.
10. Austin Rivers Dunks on Rasheed (sort of)
YEAR: July 2011
CAMP: North Carolina Pro Am (Cary, North Carolina)
COMPLEX SAYS: Dukies rejoice! Don't get gassed, though, Austin didn't really dunk on 'Sheed, but he did put on a show. Dude is a tad bit arrogant and he thinks he can rap, but Doc River's kid is crazy nice, trust us. It's safe to say, he's one and done. NBA age minimum, FTW?
9. LeBron Dunks on Kid
YEAR: June 2011
CAMP: LeBron James Skills Academy (Akron, Ohio)
COMPLEX SAYS: LeChoke is dunking on kids now? He totally did that on purpose and probably ruptured that poor kid's spleen but at least he had the decency to help him up. Side bar: What's with these Miami Heat dudes cheating in knockout?
8. KD Gets Up
YEAR: June 2011
CAMP: Drew League (Los Angeles)
COMPLEX SAYS: First the secret tatts, now this? Seems like KD is looking to shed that soft-spoken image of his and go H.A.M this year (if there's a season). 2011-12 MVP. Yeah, we said it.
7. MJ Chooses Kobe
YEAR: July 2010
CAMP: Michael Jordan Flight School (Santa Barbara, Calif.)
COMPLEX SAYS: Kobe gets the ultimate co-sign. His Airness answers every basketball fans' burning question, who's better, Kobe or LeBron? Calm down Mamba stans, his answer would have some type of credibility until you take a look at his moves as a GM. #justsayin'
6. Jordan Crawford Dunks on LeBron James
YEAR: July 2009
CAMP: LeBron James Skills Academy (Akron, Ohio)
COMPLEX SAYS: So much controversy surrounded this dunk. Nike, acting like the Alphabet Boys, confiscated the tape in hopes it never resurfaced, but the people spoke and to tell you the truth it wasn't even a real facial. Trust us, we know all about those (II). LeBron and his team made it worse by trying to deny the confiscation. Also, Jordan Crawford was playing at Xavier, so it wasn't like he was a bum off the street. Long story short: The "King" got shitted on at his own camp. Sort of.
5. Kobe Throws Shots
YEAR: July 2009
CAMP: Kobe Academy (Santa Barbara, Calif.)
COMPLEX SAYS: Kobe has gained some new fans and well-deserved respect after the Heat formed one of the most hated teams in NBA history and conspired to take over the world. Here he takes a shot at Prince James and it's safe to say Mamba would've put Jordan Crawford on his ass. Too bad dude got swept by the World Champion Dallas Mavericks. In the eloquent words of DeShawn Stevenson: Tell me how my Dirk tastes!
4. Brandon Jennings Plays Big
YEAR: Summer 2006
CAMP: Reebok ABCD (Teaneck, New Jersey)
COMPLEX SAYS: This is when the skinny kid from Compton made a name for himself. Brandon was a junior in high school and 120 lbs. soaking wet, giving fools the business; cross-overs, alley-oops, and that silky-smooth jumper. A couple pounds and years of NBA experience later, dude is still a summertime beast.
3. OJ Mayo vs Lance Stephenson
YEAR: Summer 2005
CAMP: Reebok ABCD (Teaneck, New Jersey)
COMPLEX SAYS: OJ and Lance duked it out and if ABCD were still around, best believe cats would still be talking about this showdown. Lance was in 8th grade giving Mayo, a high school junior at the time, all he could handle, until Lance started getting out of pocket with the trash talk. OJ proceeded to go apeshit, calling the youngster out and hitting Js in his face. Pixelated as fuck, but the dopeness shines through.
2. Dennis Scott Spazzes
YEAR: July 1997
CAMP: Dennis Scott Basketball Camp (Sterling, Virginia)
COMPLEX SAYS: Whoa! WTF just happened? The bowels of the Internets win again. Amidst drug rumors, Dennis Scott rambled on about his life and contract dispute with the Magic while bumpin' kid-friendly classics like Ready to Die. The camp was canceled and parents were refunded the $200 fee. Classic quote: "Don't ask me for my autograph, ask me to explain the rage that's inside of me!"
1. T-Mac Goes Off
YEAR: Summer 1996
CAMP: Adidas ABCD (Teaneck, New Jersey)
COMPLEX SAYS: T-Mac went absolutely nuts in the storied Gym Rats All-Star game back in '96, dropping 32 points. This clip is important because it's the only known evidence of his fabled performance at the Adidas ABCD camp, which catapulted him onto team's draft boards and radars and hence being drafted straight out of high school. Greatest "What I did over summer" story of all time? No doubt, son.
