Archive for kobe bryant
Brag Photo of the Week: Chris Paul Signs for UDA
Posted by: | CommentsUpper Deck is of course best known for trading cards, but we have a great memorabilia side of the company as well: Upper Deck Authenticated.
The uber-talented point guard Chris Paul did a signing for UDA on Tuesday. He signed the game-used jersey, shorts and sneakers he wore in a game against the Bulls on 1/29/2010. Check this out:
Note all the signed basketballs in the picture as well.
And of course, a personal inscription to mark what he did in that game is always appreciated by collectors:
Keep an eye out for these in our online store: they should be available in the next few weeks. In the meantime, you can click here to check out all the Chris Paul items that are currently up for sale.
If you want to keep up to date with Upper Deck Authenticated, you can click here to join the Facebook page. Once we get up to 1,000 fans, we’ll be giving away this sweet item to one random fan:
We’re already at 856 fans, so you’ll want to join now!
Popularity: 19% [?]
Brandon Roy Has Got Next
Posted by: | CommentsThe legend of Brandon Roy continues to grow. He is truly an NBA superstar even though he is still not a household name in many NBA cities. He’s out to prove to everyone that he belongs on the list of the NBA’s elite with the likes of Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and LeBron James. Judging by what he has already accomplished in his young career, Roy is almost there. For those who don’t agree, Brandon has a few words: “My time is almost here.”
Players like Wade and Bryant boast awe-inspiring workout routines that they follow during the NBA’s off-season. “B Roy,” as he is often called, employs the same desire and dedication to succeed as they do, albeit in his own workout regiment. He knows that he and his young Trailblazer teammates are on the verge of something really, really great in Portland. In addition to being the squad’s leading scorer, he has matured and evolved into their ever present leader. He has amped up his off-season conditioning and added a new haircut in hopes that his team will follow suit and take the next step toward an NBA Championship.
Take a look at Brandon Roy’s training camp workout and his thoughts on competing with Kobe:
Training Camp Week: Brandon Roy Workout
When judging Roy’s dedication to win, you need look no further than his boyhood idol while growing up in Seattle, “His Airness” himself, Michael Jordan. Brandon witnessed Jordan, who was perhaps the league’s best competitor ever, continually improve and upgrade his skills every off-season, even when winning scoring titles and NBA rings.
Roy used his mentor’s inspiration to become the state of Washington’s best high school basketball player in 2002. He even flirted with going directly to the NBA before pulling out of the draft and attending the University of Washington. Even though he was a top 50 recruit, Roy had doubts about academically succeeding at the NCAA level amid problems passing the SAT test, so he took a minimum wage job at the Seattle Ports cleaning out shipping containers until he could work out his difficulties with the entrance exams. His parents discovered that he had a common learning disability, which was common to many students, and eventually he passed the exam after being granted some extra time to complete the test.
Brandon honed his all-around skills in his four seasons under Coach Lorenzo Romar at Washington. After his junior season he thought again about going pro but stayed for his senior season since teammate Nate Robinson had already declared for the draft. Roy excelled in his senior campaign, averaging 20.2 ppg and led the Huskies to a 26-7 record and a second straight Sweet 16 appearance. He received many accolades including PAC-10 Player of the Year, All-America honors, and was a finalist for many national Player of the Year awards.
With his draft stock at an all-time high, he was selected No. 6 overall in the 2006 NBA Draft, before being traded to Portland for Randy Foye. His rookie season in the NBA was sensational from the start where he scored 20 points in his first game and never looked back, averaging 16.8 ppg, 4.4 rebs, four assists, and 1.2 steals for the season. His excellent numbers as well as his team’s improved play helped earn him an All-Star nod and Rookie of the Year honors even though he played in only 57 games due to a heel injury.
During his second season he improved his numbers to 19.1 ppg and a career high 5.8 assists, earning another All-Star berth where he led all Western Conference scorers with 18 points along with Chris Paul and Amare Stoudemire. Last season, “The Natural,” as local Portland play-by-play announcer calls him, had his best season by setting career highs in scoring (22.6), rebounds (4.7), FG% (.480), and 3 PT% (.377) earning yet another All-Star appearance along with an All NBA 2nd Team Selection (first Blazer to do so since the ‘92 season).
Roy could be called the next “Mr. Clutch” since he has 24 last-second shots where he has either tied or won a game with less than 35 seconds remaining. Portland definitely knows Roy’s worth as their franchise player since they resigned him in August to a four-year contract, with a fifth-year option, keeping him in “Rip City” through 2014.
Another facet of Roy’s game besides numbers is his leadership and ability to make those around him better. The season before he arrived in Portland, the Blazers finished fifth in their division with a dismal 21-61 record. Roy, along with young stars LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden, helped increase the Blazers’ win totals to 32, 41, and 54 wins respectively. Roy also led them to the playoffs and has revitalized a once-proud franchise which hasn’t won an NBA title since Maurice Lucas and Bill Walton led the in 1977 under Hall of Fame Coach “Doctor” Jack Ramsey.
One thing is for sure: the NBA’s Western Conference elite teams like the Lakers and Spurs should beware of the upstart Blazers. The Blazers’ and Brandon Roy’s time is coming, if it isn’t already here. I’m sure for Blazer fans, it is “Rip City or Bust!”
Check out Brandon Roy’s website for his full workout routine (http://www.broy7.com/roy/index/)
Allen Moll is an avid NBA and college basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen is a regular columnist for thehoopdoctors.com, Bleacherreport.com, UpperDeckblog.com, and his own blog, Hoops Haven (hoopsworld4.wordpress.com).
Popularity: unranked [?]
Hakeem Olajuwon Teaches His “Dream Shake”
Posted by: | CommentsHakeem Olajuwon is regarded as one of the best big men to ever step on a basketball court. As a NBA pro and collegian at Houston University, Olajuwon has done it all. He has been to the Final Four three times in college as part of the famed “Phi Slama Jama” (along with teammate Clyde Drexler), been to three NBA Finals (winning twice in ‘94 and ‘95), and won virtually every major individual award including MVP, Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. He is currently the all time NBA leader in blocked shots and ranks tenth in scoring. As an offensive player, he had no equal: he had a dazzling array of low post spins and fakes that he used to score more than 26,000 points, in his 18 year NBA career. He even had his own signature move dubbed, “The Dream Shake”, which was virtually impossible to defend. After his retirement from the NBA in 2002, Hakeem moved with his family to the country of Jordan to focus on his devout Muslim faith until he received the ultimate honor in 2008: induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Hakeem has resurfaced in the form of teacher and mentor to many of the NBA’s young big men. In 2006, he opened his own Big Man Camp, teaching his excellent footwork and amazing offensive repertoire. He has worked with many emerging professional players including Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets, and Ameka Okafor of the New Orleans Hornets. His most recent up and coming pupil is Hasheem Thabeet, who was drafted #2 overall by the Memphis Grizzlies out of UConn in the most recent NBA Draft back in June. Thabeet and his agent sought out Olajuwon’s services in an attempt to give the 7’3 shot blocking center some low post offensive moves to match his already dominating defense. Thabeet has looked up to Hakeem as an inspiration since both have taken similar paths to the NBA. Both players started as soccer players in their native countries in Africa before dominating competition in NCAA Basketball, followed by the professional ranks. Olajuwon believes that with hard work, Thabeet can have a long and very productive NBA career: one that could parallel his own.
Olajuwon was surprised when former MVP and four time NBA Champion Kobe Bryant also expressed interest in working with the Hall of Fame big man to improve his front-court skills. Hakeem was both shocked and thrilled to have the opportunity to teach his moves to a player of Bryant’s stature, since most of his clientele have been slower front-court players. Olajuwon had always felt that his fluid and flexible style of play is really more suited for bigger guards who possess better agility than the larger plodding centers. Hakeem was honored when Bryant told him, “You are the best at the mid and low post moves”, and that he wanted to learn from the best.
Adding “The Dream’s” moves to one of the most skilled all around players in the history of the game is scary. After all, Bryant has already scored more than 23,000 points and is arguably one of the most difficult players to defend. His desire and dedication to perpetually get better is what makes him an all-time great, and will ultimately land him in the Hall of Fame as well. In what is perhaps the most inspirational part of this story is that Olajuwon’s generous efforts to help teach his outstanding moves to other players is a service he provides for free. He says it is his way of giving back to the game which has greatly improved his life of humble beginnings in Africa.
Here is some footage from FOX TV interviewing Olajuwon recently in Houston:
Allen Moll is an avid NBA and College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously. He also coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen is a regular columnist for thehoopdoctors.com, Bleacherreport.com, UpperDeckBlog.com, and his own blog, Hoops Haven (hoopsworld4.wordpress.com).
Popularity: unranked [?]
Collectors Show Off Their Best Upper Deck Kobe Bryant Cards
Posted by: | CommentsUpper Deck has always taken pride in working with some of the best athletes: current stars as well as retired greats. Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter, Tiger Woods, Alexander Ovechkin, Ken Griffey Jr. and many more have a very positive relationship with us, and we’re happy to work closely with them to bring collectors the highest quality cards and memorabilia around.
As you may have heard this week, it was announced that Kobe Bryant will be leaving the elite ranks of Upper Deck athletes shortly. While we are very sad to see him go, the legacy of tremendous Kobe Bryant cards Upper Deck has brought to the market will live on and remain extremely collectible in the future (especially considering Kobe will not have multi-signed cards with players like LeBron James and Michael Jordan anymore).
To commemorate all the unique Upper Deck Kobe Bryant cards we’ve put out over the years, we asked collectors on our Facebook page to post the best Kobe cards in their collection, and the response was tremendous. From rookie cards to memorabilia cards and rare signed cards, collectors were eager to participate. You can click here to check it out. It’s a great “last hurrah” for collectors who wanted to show what the Upper Deck/Kobe Bryant relationship brought them. “Parting is such sweet sorrow” is definitely appropriate here.
Popularity: unranked [?]
Thoughts on the NBA Finals, Celebrations, Kobe and M.J.
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Congratulations are in order for the Los Angeles Lakers, who captured the 15th NBA championship in franchise history on Sunday, defeating the Orlando Magic 99-86 to secure the 2009 NBA Finals in five games.
Alright, wait, hold on. Before I continue, I have to find a quiet place to write this post. Man, let me tell you, Amazing Happens at NBA post-championship celebrations!
Okay, truthfully, I’m not reporting from a raucous post-game party at Amway Arena or at a Lakers’ victory parade. But the excitement for Kobe & Co. is palpable here at Upper Deck corporate offices as well.
People here feel a special connection to the performances of Kobe and the Lakers. Sure, we’re some 95 miles from Staples Center, and there’s a natural tendency to cheer because of the proximity. But when you have an exclusive partnership with the Lakers star and receive far-reaching creative license from his management group (not to mention encouragement and input from Kobe himself to explore new concepts and develop innovative products), you can’t help but feel like you’re part of Team Kobe. Case in point: The highly successful Shepard Fairey art series that was advertised in Hollywood last year:
It kind of reminds me of when Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls were winning NBA titles in the 90s. I was in the early days of my employment here at Upper Deck and I remember we couldn’t hide our enthusiasm for M.J. and the Bulls’ abundant success.
As many of you know, Michael was and still is an official company spokesperson. I can’t tell you all of the number of cool and fun M.J.-related projects that we’ve been a part of, and among other things, I feel privileged to have chosen dozens of his trading card photos dating all the way back to Upper Deck’s first basketball card release in 1991. When he won, we felt like we won, too.
Getting back to Kobe and the Lakers, we’re excited about getting some new memorabilia pieces ready for Lakers fans. Call it “Upper Deck Doin’ Work.” Kobe was at the top of his game and we want to make sure his memorable performances are reflected in our new productions. In fact, one of the items we’re confident fans will like is the shot shown above this post, a powerful image of Kobe currently being pre-sold at UpperDeckStore.com. The preliminary design is subject to change but I think you get a feel for where we’re going.
With that said, stay tuned for more Kobe collectibles from us. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to put the “Pardon Our Confetti” sign out for any visitors to the building. Like I said, we tend to get a little excited at times.
Popularity: unranked [?]
