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Brendan Haywood on Michael Jordan: 'At 40 years old, he was still in the gym before everyone else'
Brendan Haywood: Playing with Michael Jordan was a blessing. It was wild to think he was both a player and a GM. I’d see guys go out and party with him and think, ‘Y’all realize you’re partying with the boss, right?’ When they asked me to come, I’d just stay in my room and play video games. But MJ showed me why he was the greatest. At 40 years old, he was still in the gym before everyone else, lifting with Tim Grover and getting up shots. His footwork was impeccable. He taught Bobby Simmons, a young player, how to read defenders: ‘When you jab, watch how they react. If they drop this foot, counter this way.’ Everything MJ did was calculated. He wasn’t just guessing—he read body language, anticipated rotations, and always knew his next move. Watching that up close, you realize it’s not by accident. It’s all in the preparation.
One of the biggest games in Chicago returns this weekend at St. Sabina Church in the Auburn Gresham community. NBA stars will coach local players in a famous face-off known as the Peace Games.
For 2021, pros like Bobby Simmons will coach. “First, I have to see what talent I have and now I have to figure out how to put the pieces together,” Simmons told CBS 2 in a Zoom interview about his strategy ahead of Saturday. All-Star Antoine Walker is also excited to lead a team both on and off the court. Pre-game mentoring is a huge part of the event.
“I’m an inner-city kid from Chicago. Obviously, I was very blessed to make it to the NBA and play ball and everybody is not afforded that opportunity so just reiterating to them that there’s other avenues in life, there’s other things you can be great at you don’t necessarily have to focus in on just playing basketball,” said Walker of his message to the youth.
The games included a number of NBA veterans, with Jordan joining Walker, Michael Finley, Juwan Howard, Quentin Richardson, Corey Maggette, Bobby Simmons, Tim Hardaway and many more. A 16-year-old named LeBron James even joined in the action. "We treated LeBron like a 16-year-old," Walker said.
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Before winning four state championships and back-to-back Mr. Basketball awards at Simeon, Parker attended camps where Chicago players he looked up to — such as Corey Maggette, Bobby Simmons and Antoine Walker — worked as instructors. "But the one that stands out for me is the Juwan Howard camp,” Parker said. “That’s why I loved every second of his Michigan hire. I know he really, truly loves the kids. He doesn’t need to coach. But his enjoyment for it and his energy toward it helps everyone around him. “Chicago basketball is a brotherhood. That’s why we need to come back. It’ll be a great summer for kids to have these memories. And I teach them most importantly to have fun. Do everything with hard work and emphasis. But if you’re not having fun, all that goes out the window.”
A former NBA player who was robbed by a member of a notorious Chicago street gang had trouble remembering details of the 2006 crime, to the irritation of the attorney representing a defendant being tried on racketeering charges. Bobby Simmons testified Thursday in the trial of six alleged leaders of the ultraviolent Hobos street gang. Speaking softly into a microphone, Simmons told Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Storino he "can't remember everything that happened," when one of the defendants, Paris "Poleroski" Poe, allegedly stole a $200,000 gold and diamond necklace from Simmons, who played for the Milwaukee Bucks at the time.
Ten years after he got in a car chase with the man alleged to be one of the deadliest members of Chicago’s so-called “super gang,” former NBA player Bobby Simmons is expected to testify Thursday at the Hobo street gang’s federal racketeering trial. Paris “Poleroski” Poe opened fire on Simmons during the chase in June 2006, prosecutors say. Poe is the same man accused of executing two informants who snitched on the Hobos to the Chicago Police Department and the FBI.
The feds say Poe robbed Simmons of a $200,000 white gold necklace outside a North Side nightclub on June 11, 2006. Simmons handed over the necklace but then chased Poe — along with several other people — as Poe fled in a car driven by alleged Hobo Arnold “Armstrong” Council. Poe allegedly shot at Simmons’ car but then jumped out of Council’s car and ran.
Simmons, for his part, has maintained his basketball training while managing his business ventures in Chicago. The 6-foot-6 forward carved a decade-long career providing size on the wing and an outside presence, averaging nine points on nearly 40 percent shooting three-point shooting after being a second round draft pick in 2001. He latched on with the Los Angeles Clippers late in the 2011-12 season and sat out last year. At 33 now, Simmons still believes he has basketball left to offer a team in the NBA. “Of course I can help a team, but it’s a business of basketball,” Simmons told RealGM. “Just finding that right fit, having the opportunity. I’m still training. I just do my job and stay in the gym. I’m always ready.”
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He remains optimistic and views Leandro Barbosa‘s late signing with the Boston Celtics and Eddy Curry signing with Dallas just days before the start of the season as hope that he’ll, too, soon find a new home. “Ultimately, I have to stay ready, which I am, as far as in the gym, and stay positive,” Howard said. “I don’t think my career’s over.” Other notable players still looking for a team: Guards: Derek Fisher, Gilbert Arenas (in talks with Chinese team), Baron Davis, Earl Boykins, Mickael Pietrus, Michael Redd, Maurice Evans, Jason Kapono. Forwards/Centers: Kenyon Martin, Shawne Williams, Quentin Richardson, Bobby Simmons, Bill Walker, Jamario Moon, Renaldo Balkman, Ryan Gomes, Troy Murphy, Josh Powell, Derrick Caracter, Ben Wallace, Greg Oden, Sean Williams, Tony Battie, Mehmet Okur.
The Los Angeles Clippers re-signed free agent forward Bobby Simmons, whose second 10-day contract with the Clippers expired on March 18, the team announced Saturday. In 13 games played for the Clippers this season, Simmons has tallied 3.5 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 37.1 percent from behind the three-point line.
The Los Angeles Clippers today re-signed free agent forward Bobby Simmons, whose second 10-day contract with the Clippers expired on March 18th. In 13 games played for the Clippers this season, Simmons has tallied 3.5 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, while shooting .371 from behind the three-point line. Simmons, who was the 29th GATORADE Call-Up of the 2011-12 season when the Clippers signed him to his original 10-day contract on February 27th, averaged 13.5 points and 7.6 rebounds in 21 games played for the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League this season. Simmons also played ten games for the Bighorns during the 2010-11 season after playing two games with the San Antonio Spurs.
The Clippers are expected to re-sign small forward Simmons before Saturday's game. Simmons signed two 10-day contracts with the Clippers but didn't get another offer from the team after his deal expired last Sunday. The Clippers told Simmons they hoped to bring him back after the three-game trip.
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