Number 8: Classic

I’ve always gotten crap for the fact that Latrell Sprewell is my favorite player of all time. “Why do you like a guy that choked another person?” I never said I liked the guy personally and I don’t condone his behavior! Plus, after the accident he stayed out of big trouble. Sure, there were some issues, but people need to stop acting like he’s the only one; the league is full of headache-inducing players. “He said ‘I don’t want a 13 million dollar contract because he has to feed my family,’ what a jerk.” There are players who turn down massive deals and claim they deserve more all the time! Spree was just unfortunate enough to not land another contract. Finally, for all the talk that he cast a bad light on the NBA, he didn’t have any tattoos! If Derrick Rose, a disgusting looking kid covered in tattoos, can be the face of the NBA, so could’ve Spree.

Spree had style. I loved everything about him, from his braids to his thunderous slams. He was the most athletic, aggressive player I have ever seen. His shot was pretty sweet, and his D was insane! I feel like he was one of the most complete players of his time. People forget, he averaged 24 points per game one season. Also, he has the record for most threes in a game without a miss, at nine (video below). I am the basketball player I am because of him, I modeled my play after his.

Spree is the reason why I fell in love with basketball. He and Allen Iverson captivated me with their playing styles. I have forty Latrell Sprewell basketball. I had a Sprewell hat, two jerseys, his awesome spinning rim shoes and a Latrell teddy bear. I lived Sprewell for years, he was the center of my world. I sound like a stalker, but he was my idol. Again, not as a person, but as a basketball player. And since basketball was my life, he was too. I checked Hoopshype.com every day for 3 some odd years just to make sure he was not in any trade rumors. I despised Jason Terry for a couple years just because he was rumored to be involved in a trade for Sprewell. I despised Allan Houston and Wally Szczerbiak because I felt that they stole from Spree’s shine. I was devoted beyond reason. Drawing pictures of him, reading books about him: great memories.

The timberwolves team with Spree, Kevin Garnett, Sam Cassell, Troy Hudson, Szczerbiak, Michael Olowokandi, Fred Hoiberg and Trenton Hassell? One of my favorite teams of all time.

So remember, the next time you are about to give me a hard time about loving Latrell, think twice. I realize he’s bankrupt and I understand his yacht was seized. Nevertheless, I feel like he is a part of who I am.

Video: Sprewell Can’t Miss