Full @30HomeGames interview with GetBuckets on YouTube

<< crossposted on the 30HomeGames Medium blog

I was interviewed by Ryan of GetBuckets to close out 2023, we reflected on our time in Manila for the FIBA World Cup and talked about the world game. I had excerpted our conversation for an IG Guide, but seeing as that feature was disabled, I've transferred that info here. You can still scroll through the IG Guides via this link: 30HomeGames Instagram Guides.

VIDEO: The NBA is not it and FIBA is proving its case  

Chatting with Ryan from Get Buckets.
We debriefed after our FIBAWC experience in Manila.
Find the full vid on the 'Get Buckets' YouTube channel.

My intention for FIBAWC 2023 in Jakarta 🇮🇩, Okinawa 🇯🇵 and Manila 🇵🇭

My World Cup Intention
LE: (1m 03s) I knew I had to do it my way, which is usually doing it all 3. Obviously most people will watch their team and whoever the host is, maybe go to Manila for the finals phase.

Because I'm doing it as a traveller, backpacker and explorer and also just someone who wants to immerse myself in the experience, I had to do it all.

Lietuva, where @30HomeGames began
LE: (2m 08s) I was hooping in Rotterdam🇳🇱 with a Spanish guy from the hostel… and he goes "You love basketball, you should go to EuroBasket".

I was like, "What's @EuroBasket?"

He explained it to me, I looked it up and went to Lithuania a couple of months later… I got to see Dirk Nowitzki, Marc Gasol, Joakim Noah, Boris Diaw. All NBA guys obviously but that's a side of the game that maybe people don't know about.
You know "The Dream Team", you know your local national team but there's a whole world out there.

Taiwanese superfans of the Baltics in Jakarta

Hoops opening up the world
LE: (5m 22s) The more curious and the more you find out, the more you realise there's more curiosity to look into. There's more that we can dig into…"

Find your pack
LE: (7m 14) We all have to realise that attention is paid to what's popular but there's always going to be a small subgroup of people.

People like Australians who like the Boomers. People who like small market teams, who like the Grizzlies and the Timberwolves who are like
"🙋‍♂️ How about us? 🙋‍♀️ How about us?".
There's always been that tussle.

On growing the fanbase
LE: (8m 20s) For me - and we can talk about this with women's sport or just anything. You just need to build a loyal fanbase. You need to build a fanbase that's "ride or die " with you and who are genuine about the team. Genuine about the culture.

Success can bring you new fans, success can bring you new audiences... but you just need that loyalty, you need that culture. You need that sense of community.

Lebanon fans in Jakarta for FIBAWC

Win for Lebanon
LE: (10m 15s) My first World Cup game was Latvia vs Lebanon, probably the best crowd on both sides I experienced. Lebanon came second in FIBA Asia, @WaelArakji is a player I really like so I came in wanting to like Lebanon. They had an amazing support group... a massive amount of Lebanese fans, that's what it's about..."

Gold stays forever
RA: (11m 08s) This is where I really appreciated that mob of Australians, the old heads who were even wearing custom shirts… Even if the Boomers weren't there, they all had fun. That's what it's all about, being with your mates and enjoying the sport that you love.

Pilipinas at Australia (February 2018)

They say we love basketball
RA: (14m 28s) If the Philippines or Filipinos have the ability to support, they will.
...
In 2018 there was an exhibition match in Melbourne... Gilas vs Boomers. 80% attending were Filipinos IN Australia.
I was so proud that I was there, it was insane!
...
They will support the Philippines team, it's just outside of them and Team USA, it needs some work. I don't think it's the Filipinos' fault. Again, credit to the huge marketing machine that is the NBA...

Love of the game
LE: (19m 09s) You've seen this with sneakers… everyone's a sneakerhead now and everyone knows more about sneakers than you do. Then you're like wait "Didn't you just get into it two years ago?"

But that's all of life now...

Guest piece for 'SBS Voices'
LE: (19m 24s) Everything is just accessible but how does that translate into authentic following. Because if it's easy to get into something, it's also easy to get out of something out.

RA: That's right. Is it a trend or do you believe it as a person and it just became a trend?

This. Is. Wrestling. #30HGlive

Then. Now. Forever.
LE: (20m 08s) Everyone likes everything.

RA: There's small bubbles everywhere. They like their own thing.

LE: But then how many things in your life have you liked since you were 15? That to me is what's interesting… That's basketball for me. It's pro-wrestling as well and then there's a million other things.
But that's also what makes me, me.

Best way to find out
LE: (21m 53s) You want to search for it. There's a comedian @peteholmes who [has a joke] about Googling. You can Google all knowledge but the best knowledge is when you experience it, maybe organically through conversation or organically through life...
And so for me that story is amazing because you had the intention for something to happen... And to me that's what the experience of going on these trips is about.

Getting swept up by @Gromuls and Team Latvia

The Latvian connection
LE: (23m 32s) I'm walking towards there, then I see a bunch of Latvians and I'm like "They're going to the game, I'll follow them
...
They're friendly to me and they give me a [Rolands Šmits] shirt so I become part of their crew...
So [@gromuls] he's a TikToker, an influencer, and he just knows everyone in Latvia so I was just connected with him for all the games yeah...

Meeting Raimonds Vējonis

LE: (24m 14s) "I want to introduce you to someone. he's the President of Basketball". So I shake his hand, take a photo. He's a cool guy.

Then later on everyone else is taking photos with him and one of the guys goes, "You know who that is right? That's the former President of Latvia".
...
This is who I want to meet and connect with. People who are just like: You're a fan, I'm a fan.
I'm a person, you're a person.

Srbija Got Game

RA: (27m 58s) You want to understand why the last three MVPs in the NBA are not American, this is why. You have to see how they play, how they connect. They're so different.

I go back to Bogdan, this is why I want a Bogdan jersey... he's the lifeblood of the Serbian team.

30HomeGames sees the world (Indonesia + Japan + Philippines): FIBA World Cup wishlist

Jakarta, Indonesia + Okinawa, Japan + Manila, Philippines (Aug25 - Sep12)

I attended my first Basketball World Cup last year, watching the best women in the world in my hometown Sydney. In a month I'll embark for FIBAWC, watching games in Jakarta, Okinawa and Manila. I've been to Indonesia, Japan and Philippines previously but this will be my first solo adventure exploring these cities. Backpacking has been a great way for me to immerse myself in new places, and a big part of what drives my 30HomeGames mission. 

Being born in Cebu, I've had my sights set on this FIBA World Cup since it was first announced. Connecting with my birth country, a hotbed for basketball, and on the grandest stage of them all. I'm flexible on my trips but do search for my other loves of wrestling and comedy wherever I go. Its ultimately a stand-in for finding niche and subculture in new places. Otherwise its exploring neighbourhoods with street food and streetwear as a pretext, on top of the usual sightseeing and hoops of course. 

I've generally just made wishlists for my NBA trips. With the scale of the trip and it being my first basketball mission since the pandemic, it made sense to create a guide. If you have any suggestions, kindly let me know in the comments or get in touch via Instagram or Twitter.

Via BobbyHundreds' IG stories

JAKARTA, Indonesia

EATS
- Union Group (American brasserie, bakery & bar)
Plaza Senayan, Pondok Indah Mall, Pik Avenue
- LEKO (Indonesian)
Jl. Arteri Pd. Indah No.10, RT.10/RW.6, Kby. Lama Utara, Kec. Kby. Lama, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12240
- Rumah Makan Padang Sari Indah (Indonesian)
Jl. Wolter Monginsidi No.7, RT.5/RW.2, Selong, Kec. Kby. Baru, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12170
- GIOI (Farm to Table)
Jl. Senopati No.88, RT.7/RW.3, Selong, Kec. Kby. Baru, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12190
- August (Modern Indonesian)
Sequis Tower - Ground Floor #03-02, Jl. Jenderal Sudirman No.Kav. 71, Jakarta, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12190
- Sate Khas Senayan, Kemang (Sate & Seafood)
Kemang Square, Jl. Kemang Raya No.3A, RT.14/RW.1, Bangka, Kec. Mampang Prpt., Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12730
- Meatsmith Jakarta (Steakhouse and American BBQ)
Gunawarman No.17, Selong, Kec. Kby. Baru, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12110, Indonesia

FASHION
- A G E L E S S G A L A X Y ®
Jl. Bangka Raya No. 10, Unit C Pela Mampang, Mampang Prapatan Jakarta Selatan 12720
- Primetime Jakarta
STC Senayan No. 1001, RT.1/RW.3, Gelora, Kecamatan Tanah Abang, Kota Jakarta Pusat, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 10270
- Sepatu Compass
Sawah Lio Raya 4 Jl. Sawah Lio Gg. 9 No.20, RT.3/RW.6, Jemb. Lima, Kec. Tambora, Kota Jakarta Barat, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 11250

OTHER
- Bucketlist (Art Gallery + Basketball Court)
R.H. Moh. Tohir No.1, Tanah Baru, Bogor Utara. Kota Bogor, Jawa Barat 16154
- Ketawa Comedy Club

Indonesia Arena
QRP2+376, Jl. Pintu Satu Senayan, RT.1/RW.3, Gelora, Kecamatan Tanah Abang, Kota Jakarta Pusat, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 10270

The Group Phase (My Indonesia leg)

Jakarta Games
Group G: Brazil, Côte d'Ivoire, Iran, Spain
Group H: Canada, France, Latvia, Lebanon

Arriving Friday, Aug25
- Group Phase, 1st Round (Friday Aug25 - Wednesday Aug30)

_________________________________________

OKINAWA, Japan

Other
- Itinerary and Eating suggestions from MsTravelSolo
- Ogimi Village
Known for its long life expectancy

Events
- Tug of War Festival
These festivals usually take place from July to October to pray for a good harvest.

2nd Round Group Crossover (My Japan Leg)

Okinawa Arena
1 Chome-16-1 Yamauchi,
Okinawa, 904-0034, Japan

Japan Games
Group E: Australia, Finland, Germany, Japan
Group F: Cape Verde, Georgia, Slovenia, Venezuela

Arriving Thursday, Aug31
- 2nd Round and Classification (Thursday Aug31 - Sunday Sep3)

_________________________________________

Philippines Travelogue: Alexander Wolff, Rafe Bartholomew, Kevin Couliau

MANILA, Philippines

EATS

Collections from Manila with @nikkorms from Titan 🇵🇭

How Kobe Bryant visited the Philippines, laughed at his tattoo and then signed a pair of shoes for him 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Ro77k6Ty2u

— B/R Kicks (@brkicks) August 25, 2020

FASHION

- SLAM Online Philippines
- Titan 22
1108 Katipunan Ave, Quezon City, 1800 Metro Manila, Philippines

- Titan Conrad

#230-231 S Maison, Second Floor, Conrad Hotel Manila, Marina Way, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay 1300

- Titan22 Outlet
Building C 2FR-1 Solenad 3, Nuvali Sta. Rosa 4026

- Season Pass
63 Maginhawa, Diliman, Lungsod Quezon, 1101 Kalakhang Maynila, Philippines

Wrestling
- Manila Wrestling Federation
September 24: Aksyonovela TV Taping @ FitnessPlayground PH

OTHER
- P. Villanueva & F.Sanchez, Pasay, Metro Manila
"I came upon the smallest basketball arena I'd ever seen, and in its own way the grandest." Mentioned in Alexander Wolff's 'Big Game, Small World' (2002)

- Private Road, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila
"We first hit Private Road. I’ve never liked the term “streetball” since it wasn’t a label our own community created but rather a term that media and corporate brands pushed" — Photographer Kevin Couliau in his Asphalt Chronicles Vol.1 zine

- #TheCourtyardMNL, Bonifacio Global City
Press Release: "Nike just launched Manila’s newest basketball court in the heart of BGC. A safe space for every baller to work on their game."

- Payatas Dumpsite, Quezon City (closed?)
"There's got to be a better way. Obviously people have been here for generations and they are making a living... I'm sure basketball is one of those things that help you deal with those realities..."
— Author and host Rafe Bartholomew in NatGeo's docuseries 'Pinoy Hoops' (2014)

- Secret Fresh, DJ Bigboy Cheng
Ronac Art Center, Ortigas Ave, San Juan (11am-6pm)
R2, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati (11am-9pm)

VIDEO: LeBron, Paul George have visited this famous basketball court in a crumbling tenement | SC Featured

- Fort Bonifacio Tenement
"The Tenement has since become an iconic symbol and a bucket list destination for those who love basketball" —Jordan Clarkson in SC Feature.

Events

Winning Time! (My Philippines leg)

Manila Games
Araneta Coliseum
General Roxas Ave, Cubao,
Quezon City, 1109 Metro Manila
Group A: Angola, Dominican Republic, Italy, Philippines
Group B: China, Puerto Rico, Serbia, South Sudan

Mall of Asia Arena
Mall of Asia Complex, J.W. Diokno Blvd,
Pasay, 1300 Metro Manila, Philippines
Group C: Greece, Jordan, New Zealand, USA
Group D: Egypt, Lithuania, Mexico, Montenegro

- Group Phase, 1st Round (Friday Aug25 - Wednesday Aug30)
- 2nd Round and Classification (Thursday Aug31 - Sunday Sep3)
- Quarter Finals (Tues Sep5, Wed Sep6)
- Classification 5-8 (Thur Sep7)
- Semi-Finals (Fri Sep8)
- Classification 7-8 (Sat Sep9)
- Finals (Sun Sep10)

Approaching 10 years of @30HomeGames. A decade of travelling and connecting over a shared love of basketball.

This year I'll be celebrating 10 years since founding 30HomeGames in Vilnius, Lithuania. I was recently invited on 'The Baseline Podcast' with Stevie Cozens to share my stories as a basketball traveller.

VIDEO: Official EuroBasket 2011 Anthem (English version)

Stevie is a New Zealander with a passion for hoops, he has an interesting mixture of guests who cover a range of perspectives on the game. The pandemic has put a halt on life as usual for all of us. Putting privileges like travel and opportunity in perspective, I'm lucky to have been able to take my chances over the years. Whilst New Zealand is an emerging basketball nation, Stevie and the Baseline Podcast is a great example of how technology and shared interests can open our world and shrink the distance between us. Even when we're robbed of travel or away from the action.

My 7 year old daughter was introduced to the WNBA today in @sabrina_i20 's debut. "Mom, I can be a basketball player even though I'm a girl?" Yes baby girl, you can do anything ❤️ pic.twitter.com/EmzVeB8i8r

— Dia (@diandraann) July 25, 2020

Stevie's guests on the Baseline Podcast have mirrored epiphanies I've had on my own journey. Photographer Diandra Ann shares her discoveries after being exposed to a wider universe of hoops through her work and fandom.

Catching Up With Diandra Ann, The Queen of Blazers Twitter

DIANDRA ANN: (10m 55s) This is all a new world to me. I'm getting familiar with it as I go because there's so much that I don't know still but like you said this is really well known outside of the United States. I think of a lot of it is why you watch basketball? Do you watch basketball because you like LeBron James (nothing against LeBron James, he's a fantastic player). But do you watch basketball because of that or do you watch basketball cause you like to watch basketball? And I think if you're a person who just likes to watch basketball there are so many other people out there that you could be watching including organisations like FIBA...

For Diandra, her exposure began when she started working with Swish Cultures and FIBA. Having international colleagues and doing work with a global focus on the game gave her access to another perspective. Travel has usually been my gateway. I've cultivated my curiosity by exploring different cultures but personal connections to places and people cement that fondness. 30HomeGames began after spending an incredible month backpacking around hoops-mad Lithuania as they hosted EuroBasket '11. The festival atmosphere connecting with hoopheads from around Europe and the amazing hospitality from locals has been a high I've chased ever since.  

DIANDRA: (16m 16s) When you put people in that are the best of what you've got then you've got the fans behind you and you build that global awareness for the game outside of just the United States. I still feel like I don't fully understand all of it as far as all the leagues, who's where and all that stuff. I'm kinda figuring it out as I go cuz it's all very new for me because I wasn't really exposed to it before. 

When you hear people say all the time "Representation Matters. Exposure Matters" and all those things and that's very true because if you don't know it exists its hard to be familiar with it. As it gets more recognition and as it becomes a bigger thing we're gonna hopefully see excitement building for basketball outside of the NBA and the WNBA...  

I'm a big believer in narrative, its a powerful drive in basketball. Its the reason we adore certain teams and players and why we despise others. It's also what pushes us to collect certain basketball cards or buy certain sneaker colourways. Its worth examining those stories because I think it tells us a lot about ourselves and each other. Looking at all my faves through the years, I've found that I have a bias towards, underdogs, small market teams and international players which I touched on in my episode.

Another conversation that resonated with me was Stevie's chat with Kaan Erel. Kaan was a contestant on 'GM School' which originally aired on NBATV and YouTube. His perspective on networking reflected my own, interestingly 'GM School' host Ben Lyons has been one of the most meaningful connections I've made on my 30HomeGames journey. I speak on that in my conversation with Stevie.

VIDEO: GM School - Kaan Erel

Kaan unpacks the basics of interpersonal connection and being able to present oneself as a professional asset. His words also double as great life advice.

Career In Basketball Media With Kaan Erel

KAAN EREL: (34m 22s) Networking is crucial to display who you are to the people that you want... you gotta know who you are and be able to describe yourself in a way that you agree with it. Once you stop trying to get someone else to agree that you are worth it... once you find your own self worth, it becomes easy to talk about it to other people...

You never know when relationships will become something of actual business or professional value but if you don't go into them with that in mind they hold value just because of the connection... It's all about building connections that can amount to different things in the future. That's what I think networking is. It's not about "I need to find a job" or "I need to change out". I wanna meet more people because that's what life is actually about. 

This sentiment by Kaan is something I touched on with Stevie. I have a similar philosophy around social media and been blessed to find the right people. My first NBA game was in 2015 at Madison Square Garden. As I do before embarking on my trips, I try to reach out to the destination NBA teams in search of a unique fan experience. During that time I had a modest 200+ Instagram followers (admittedly I don't have too much more 10 years on) but the New York Knicks graciously provided our traveling crew pregame access. That initial experience proved to me I didn't need to have tens of thousands of followers to warrant a connection. Genuineness and openness with timing and good fortune mixed in can go a long way. 

Its an honour to be able to share my story on the Baseline Podcast. Enjoy the show.

Follow Stevie Cozens online here:
- Twitter at @StevieCozens
- Instagram at @BasketballContentNZ
- Subscribe to 'The Baseline Podcast'

Follow Diandra Ann online here:
- Twitter at @DiandraAnn
- Instagram at @Diandra.Ann

Follow Kaan Eral online here:
- Twitter at @iKaanic
- Instagram at @iKaanic

30HG Interviews | Dean Lockhart aka @Karl_Malone_collector: Premier collector of Karl Malone trading cards

I first got into the NBA in 1993, my younger brothers and I soon declaring our favourite players and rooting interests. I got Hakeem, my younger brother chose Reggie and the youngest nominated Malone. Looking back on it, we're not quite sure why Jordan didn't figure highly but his retirement must've been the reason. All three were nemeses of Jordan when he returned so we were destined to be on the other side of history. Karl Malone and the Utah Jazz, arguably the most iconic counterbalance for the Bulls' second 3-peat.

 

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A post shared by Loz In Transit (@30homegames)

Back in those days Dennis Rodman got all the headlines for being the oddball, he was wearing wedding dresses and made the covers of my Mad Magazines. When Rodman and Malone extended their Finals rivalry into the squared circle, the collision of interests was this high school kid's dream. I only found out recently it was all due to Malone. A fortuitous friendship was formed when Karl, a wrestling fan signaled to DDP with his trademark "Diamond Cutter" after spotting him at a Jazz game. The rest is history.  

#NBLxNBA Road trip to Salt Lake City (2017)

Those consecutive NBA Finals gave us more exposure of the small market Jazz. I'd watch Malone arrive to games in his Harley and think, "this guy's different". Today's league values expression and individuality, a reflection of the zeitgeist. I'd argue Karl Malone endures as one of the game's true unicorns but an underappreciated one at that. His checkered history away from the game a factor most likely.

Collector's Spotlight: Karl Malone Collector
at 'The Hobby Hangout Trading Card Show'  

At the end of May, Sydney will host 'The Hobby Hangout Trading Card Show'. As soon as I spotted Dean Lockhart 'The Karl Malone Collector' as a featured presenter I was immediately intrigued. He still remains the second leading scorer of all time but is rarely mentioned. Many of today's generation of fans know little about this recent great and even with all the independent creators, Karl Malone's 36,928 points are unlikely to feature in many modern highlight reels.

I reached out to Dean to find out about his collection and his connection to 'The Mailman'.

1. What was your first Karl Malone card?
My first ever Malone card was a pack pulled 93/94 Fleer Ultra Scoring Kings which I still have to this day in my collection.

2. What made you start the collection?
I think I was around 11 years old and after pack pulling that card I decided that day he was the guy I wanted to collect. My brother was into Hakeem 'The Dream' Olajuwon and my mate next door was a big Shaq fan so had to be different to one another. I was a huge Jordan fan but his prices were out of the realms that I could ever possibly collect.

3. What's your philosophy on collecting?
My philosophy is to nail down exactly what you want and who you want to collect (whether it be the first big card you pack pull or an NBA game that you watched and you made a decision to go yep that's the player I rate). For me, it was all about the insert chases. Base I didn’t care for much because it was so common, I was always after the refractors and rare insert chase. Even to this day, I prefer the short print, simple sleek designs. Prime example is the blank slate card from Court Kings – just wow what a simplistic but eye catching design. You'll also notice my collection is very "autograph" based because it was how I wanted to collect coming back into the hobby 2 years ago. To others out there starting or deciding, really find the niche you want and go for it. Don't try to collect everything, it's a slippery slope...

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A post shared by Dean Lockhart (@karl_malone_collector)

4. How do you feel about the current state of the culture?
It's fantastic to see a resurgence, not so much for collectors who have been in the scene for a while and can no longer pick up cards for a lot cheaper than before. The prices of boxes are exorbitant, and Panini don't make it easy for you to collect a "Rainbow" chase, but they are only doing what they see as a business model to follow economic trends and the resurgence of cards. One thing that annoys me is the new money coming in to the scene with these so called "flippers/investors". I congratulate the people that can afford to get those high end cards. But what still baffles me is how a bball player that is unproven has cards way overvalued compared to Hall of Famers and players that have had glittering careers or perhaps I'm just a salty collector who chose the wrong player (laughs). Credit to the hobbyists who have the smarts to buy low and sell high at the right time but I think any true collector finds it annoying because it’s driving up the market and not to mention causing major delays with grading but hey it’s part of the hobby and it's here to stay for a while. 

5. What do you make of the Australian scene?
The Australian scene is growing in leaps and bounds daily. Breakers are popping up everywhere, and not to mention the fast rate of growth for numbers of people in Facebook trading card groups. Instagram pages are popping up with people showing off their collections which is really cool. A lot of the guys I have dealt with have been genuine enthusiasts and for the most part take the time to talk and ask about your collection and help out wherever possible. Sure there are some people that have no interest in creating friendships, but rather there to make a quick buck and leave. Every hobby has those kinds of people but for the majority of it everyone is helpful, friendly, enthusiasts and always looking at ways to grow the hobby. 

6. Do you think there’ll be anything in the near future that will dramatically change the value of Malone cards?
Anyone who is a basketball enthusiast will know of Malone's past which has probably tarnished the value of his cards and people in the hobby maintain that and can't get past it even though he has owned up to those mistakes and done his best to rectify off court behaviours. I mean 2nd in all time point scoring is some feat and people often forget how much of a beast he was on the court.

"He embraces the truck driving, he embraces the country ways... He was a perfect fit for that Utah culture."
- Roland Lazenby, Author 'Stockton to Malone'

7. I consider Karl a unique character. Did that have personal appeal for you?
I would say it had some sort of appeal because being a sports person myself you need to have other passions and hobbies. For me it was just watching Stockton dish up dimes for Malone to stuff coming down the lane. You love to see the signature Malone poster dunks.

8. By focusing on Malone, do you think you're a unicorn in the card collecting scene?
There's a very select amount of Malone collectors around Australia and the world that I have connected with via the various social media platforms and we are definitely rare to find so I would certainly consider myself a bit of unicorn as such.

9. Where do you sit on the NFT buzz? You waiting for a Karl Malone NBA Topshot to drop?
For me mate – I think they are absolutely ridiculous and a waste of money. I mean you can go on Youtube and basically download the clip you'd like and chop it and change how you please. I think the crypto world has tried to creep in and for me it doesn't work. It will leave as quick as it came in.

LeBron James talking about why the Jazz were picked last... 💀@NBAonTNT | @KingJamespic.twitter.com/9HetP713sv

— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) March 5, 2021

10. Despite the team dominating this season, the Jazz' All-Stars were slighted with LeBron justifying it by saying Utah has always been unpopular. Thoughts?
It's true no one ever used them because they weren't your ideal go-to stars. Much like today's players, they aren't household names like LeBron. Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell are undervalued and just go about their work winning games as did Malone and Stockton in their day!

11. You've got a few Lakers' Malone cards. What are your feelings on this part of the collection and this part of his career?
At first I only wanted Jazz signed cards but it was still a significant time in his career as it was a shift to a powerhouse team. The big thing that annoys me is when he signs "Malone 32" on a Lakers jersey #11 card. Fun fact is that I represented my country in Futsal (indoor soccer) and the jersey I used to wear was number 11 so it's kinda cool that as a collector I wore his jersey number which was unplanned.

12. Do you have Malone memorabilia worth mentioning?
I have absolutely zero other memorabilia besides a little "Corinthians" Malone figurine. I would love to add a signed bball or shoe but it’s not my immediate chase piece. I do envy the collections I see where people have a jersey, shoe or the aforementioned signed ball but as you can imagine, storage and having it on display can prove tricky.

13. Which modern players do you gravitate towards?
Anyone who doesn't gravitate towards Zion Williamson is just silly. The kid is a generational talent and a supreme athlete despite what the "haters" say. Big, strong and can score points for fun – he is the future of basketball for next 10 years easily.

14. Have you ever traveled for this hobby? Any cool connections or stories you can share?
I have not unfortunately. Only coming back into the hobby 2 years, it wasn't much in the way of Australia having trading shows but to see the interest boom recently, it has changed the landscape of collecting again and I can't wait to feature my collection at The Hobby Hangout in Sydney. Hopefully in the future I can venture to the States for the Dallas card show amongst others.

- Find Dean's featured collection at The Hobby Hangout in Manning House, Sydney University. Saturday, 29th of May.
- View my IG snaps from The Hobby Hangout
- Follow Dean on Instagram at @karl_malone_collector 

Being absorbed by travel and the challenge of distilling our discoveries: Sam Anderson on the 'Dear Adam Silver' podcast

'Boomtown' by Sam Anderson

Abigail Smithson is an artist with a love for basketball. Like myself, she has a perspective of the game through art and the larger world. Her guests are a reflection of this. Author Sam Anderson provided amazing insight into the writing of his book, 'Boomtown: The fantastical saga of Oklahoma City, its chaotic founding... its purloined basketball team, and the dream of becoming a world-class metropolis'. How OKC came to be his muse and the invigoration he got through travel.

'Dear Adam Silver' podcast | Episode 37: Sam Anderson and Boom Town

SAM ANDERSON: (31m 06s) There's something to be said for coming in as an outsider, as a blank slate and then just filling in the canvas as much as you can.
ABIGAIL SMITHSON: And I think if you're from somewhere, whether it's where you grew up or you live later on. Whichever. It's so much harder to get that same level of drive towards learning about that place, you take it for granted... whereas when you're in a new place and you're a visitor, I gotta get all this info...

I visited Oklahoma in 2017. I was able to spend time with distant cousins, my only NBA roadtrip being hosted by family. I'm sure my experience of Oklahoma was unique to me. Our experience of places are inevitably shaped by the time we have, who we meet along the way and the perspectives we bring. Like any good dialogue, hopefully we get taken somewhere that we didn't expect coming in.

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A post shared by Loz In Transit (@30homegames) on Jun 21, 2020 at 4:52am PDT

On being activated by novelty, Sam Anderson continues:

ANDERSON: It was like an alternate mode of being. That to me as a writer, a reporter, a whatever–as a human is like the most exciting thing, is just being in a place with all my receptors wide open and just take in everything I can take in and that's my only job is to be fully aware. It feels like a real Buddhist state of ecstasy and openness. The writing is the horrible part, the production of the thing later is the bad part. Being out there absorbing the world is just one of the happiest feelings I know...

I've grappled with this myself. On my first grand adventure backpacking around Europe, I traveled sans camera for most of the trip to fully embrace the moment. Truth be told, my camera was stolen early on but I resolved not to replace it to fully commit to the experience. I became fascinated by memory. I read books about it, and wrestled with it through writing. Especially with the ubiquity of social media and life documentation, it often becomes a battle between living in the moment or standing back to capture it.

Sam and Abigail share their struggles with this conflict as creatives:

ABIGAIL SMITHSON: (33m 12s) It's so nice for me to hear that the writing is still the horrible part for you. I too get very exhilarated by being somewhere that's new to me... realising that this could be something I spend more time with but then now I'm home and "aaaargh", slowly pecking at the keys. It's not great. 

SAM ANDERSON: The worst. The worst... I come back and it's always the same thing. I'm overwhelmed by this continent of thrilling material I've come back with and how do you go about reducing that and mapping it out and just extracting the littlest bits that tell people about the larger thing. You just lose so much and that always feels so traumatic for me. That transition from the pure ecstasy of intaking the world to the difficulty of outputting some tiny little thing represents that intake. It's always so hard and it surprises me every time how hard it is and how different the thing I produce is to what I imagined or felt along the way.

Borrowing a moment from #30HGnorthwest

Sam Anderson resolves the dilemma of disconnect by finding value in the attempt.

SAM ANDERSON: (35m 21s) As my editors always reminded me, my big sloshing Pacific Ocean of ecstatic experiences on any given subject, that's completely internal to me. It does that subject no justice if I just sit around with it sloshing around inside myself feeling happy that I contain this ocean and that I have to find a way to distil and compress... present this tiny sculpture made of salt... Here you go. That's the ocean.

'Before Sunrise' (1995) - "The answer must be in the attempt"

A worthy resolution, validated in a line from my favourite movie 'Before Sunrise'. "If there's any kind of magic in this world it must be in the attempt of understanding someone sharing, something. I know, it's almost impossible to succeed... but who cares really? The answer must be in the attempt."


Find other posts on creativity and memory here:
- Jacques Henri Lartigue: Why I'm getting a camera
- The pursuit of happiness: A collection of "Happy triggers" during travel
- Retiring the @30HomeGames Instagram.
- Other people's stories - Tales of: Living in the moment

2018 Aussie Basketball Tour: Notes from a week in Melbourne

The 2018 Australian Tour (NBL and FIBA)
Round 19, Feb 18: ILL def. MEL (94 - 84)
FIBA Qualifier 1, Feb 22: AUS def. PHI (84 - 68)
FIBA Qualifier 2, Feb 25: AUS def. TPE (88 - 68)

Melbourne was the last stop of my Aussie basketball odyssey. The FIBA qualifying calendar coincides with the end of the NBL season so I'd be hanging around to watch 2 games of International play with the Aussie Boomers as well. My plan was to watch the league leaders play the season's final round, roadtrip with a local mate down the Great Ocean Road and return in time for the FIBA games. My stay would total 8 nights in 5 different beds. A combination of hostels, AirBnBs and crashing at a mates. I'd be back home in Sydney for the start of the NBL playoffs.

Being Australia's cultural capital, I've been to Melbourne close to a dozen times for everything from wrestling, comedy and basketball. I made the trip to see freshman Ben Simmons headline his LSU Tigers against his hometown team. I've watched the Aussie Boomers play New Zealand and the PAC-12 All Stars, including exhibition games in neighbouring Bendigo.

Pre-game vibes outside Hisense and Margaret Court Arena

First up was the final round showdown between the Hawks and Melbourne United. Illawarra sat outside playoff contention at a distant fifth but looked to upset the Championship favourites. The game at then-named Hisense Arena was tight until the Hawks broke free in the final stanza. The upset victory meant I finished my NBL roadtrip on a two-game losing streak. I watched the game with my friend Dom, her first basketball game live. We would embark for the Great Ocean Road the following day.

I had a 3 day reprieve from hoops action to hit the road. The trip south allowed me to visit iconic Aussie landmarks like the Twelve Apostles and Bells Beach, as well as do some bushwalking. It also yielded some nice vintage finds. We stocked up on classic CD albums for our drive and I scored some sweet gear. Most notably a South Dragons' Shane Heal jersey.

Lorne, Victoria op shop finds: @adidasHoops BK Nets' "Brooklyn's Finest" tee, @MajesticOnline LA Clippers' "Lob city" tee, @ShaneHeal South Dragons' jersey.#30HGoztour #WeAreMelbourne #ThriftStoreFinds pic.twitter.com/dcDimqn0EY

— Loz Intransit (@30HomeGames) February 21, 2018

The first of two FIBA qualifers with the Aussie Boomers was against the Philippines. Being of Filipino heritage and having experienced the fandom behind Gilas Pilipinas firsthand during FIBA Asia, I knew that the visitors would have plenty of support in Melbourne. The game was competitive to start and plenty of fun with the cheeky banter from the Gilas faithful. As many observers reported, the contest "felt more like an away game" for the Boomers. The joviality a far cry from the shameful display their following matchup on Filipino soil. That game made international headlines, tarnishing the reputation of both programs as the contest devolved into a melee which spilled into the stands. I wish people could've witnessed the good spirits of this game instead of the lasting impression from that "basket-brawl".

Philippines and Chinese Taipei fans

The following Boomers match against 'Chinese Taipei' was a bit more traditional. A home crowd experience with only pockets of Taiwanese fans in attendance. Despite Taiwan's gutsy showing after the half, the Boomers had a dominant 20 point win over the visitors. Both international qualifiers were held at Margaret Court Arena (7,500 capacity). A smaller venue compared to United's home floor (10, 500) of Hisense Arena, now named Melbourne Arena.

The main highlight of this trip was reconnecting with different hoopsheads as I criss-crossed the country. Annie and her family of Wildcats' fans, as well as German backpackers Jakob and Lars. I met them in different parts of Australia and caught up with each of them over a game. Basketball has been an invaluable way to connect — #ThisisWhyWePlay.

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I met Lars🇩🇪 in Adelaide and reconnected with him in Melbourne to bookend my tour. Together with Annie🇦🇺 and Jakob🇩🇪, I was lucky to reunite with 3 hoopsheads on this journey spanning weeks and across multiple States. #BasketballFamily _ Adelaide + Melbourne, Australia. (Jan + Feb, 2018) #30HGoztour

A post shared by Loz In Transit (@30homegames) on Mar 7, 2018 at 5:53am PST

It was an awesome feeling completing my first set of basketball missions. I'm halfway through the NBA cities and have two more FIBA tourneys to go. I wouldn't say I'm a completionist, I just really enjoy these adventures and would like to continue having them whilst I'm able to. Its actually taken me a while to polish off these diaries. Being cooped up with this global pandemic finally giving me the impetus. I realise that I'm driven by creating and living these types of experiences. Recounting these stories whilst the world is on lockdown reminds me of the privilege I've had to explore and why it was all worth it.

Thank You Basketball.

- Follow my daily snapshots on the @30HomeGames Instagram and hashtag #30HGoztour
- Check my tour notes from Wollongong and Adelaide
- Check my tour notes from Cairns and Brisbane
- Check my tour notes from Perth and Auckland
- Check my tour notes from my week in Melbourne