My dad and I made it to the DeltaPlex to watch the Grand Rapids Drive tonight, AND SO DID ANDRE DRUMMOND AND REGGIE JACKSON! Yee-Haw!

So fucking awesome. Everyone was in attendance because Brandon Jennings, who has missed the last 11 months, was in the building for a rehab assignment. In the history of the development league, this was it’s highest profile player ever.

My fam used to attend Grand Rapids Hoops games in the same building. We got tickets in section 101 for $5 apiece, pretty much as cheap as they were a decade ago for the CBA. We weren’t prepared for the traffic: leave it to the western part of the state to be totally unaware!

But oldschool and I were golden. We arrived just before tipoff to an electric atmosphere. Jennings received a strong ovation, starting at guard. He looked good – some early turnovers, then crisp, legendary passing along with decisive, vicious offense. He threw it off the backboard early and the Drive DUNKED IT HOME, sending the crowd into a roar.

I felt like I was back at home. I think the basketball court is my single favorite garden. It’s a snarf’s sanctuary. I realized I hadn’t watched live basketball one time since I shattered my heel bone 7 years ago. Wow.

I humbly would like to state that I led the vocal charge tonight. It does not mean every other G wasn’t swaggin, too, but I stepped up to the plate with in the moment, genuine reactions at a loud enough volume to get people going. And it’s not to bragg, but because it FELT SOOO GOOD! I know this game of basketball well, and I have nothing but love for it.

It’s the same game we play in the driveway. We all know what’s good. Just like in Detroit, I found myself able to let go as the natural ebb and flow took over. You can still chime in and react, but it’s so much bigger than all of us. And that’s why it’s such a great teamwork exercise as well as an endorphin releasing exercise.

We were blowing them out early, for two other Piston scrubs (who are also great, but lower bench rotationers) were also sent down to aid Jennings. Reggie Bullock was one, and he led the team with 29 points, draining two four-point plays. The Spartan Branden Dawson looked powerful, soaring for boards and finishing in the post. The Drive looked pretty unstoppable at times.

With the first quarter almost over, the snarf behind me said, “It’s Andre Drummond.” Because it was.

OUR PISTONS WILT CHAMBERLAIN was IN THE HO– USE!!!! UNREAL! And who followed behind him? OUR STUD PG REGGIE JACKSON, both there to rep their team! WHOA!

I guess 4 overtimes didn’t slow them down, huh? These $5 seats now seemed like gold. They sat down by our end, making our seats perfect. It was so cool to watch them interact with fans, players, young kids and everyone in the building. They are two down to earth Gs. Pretty low-key but cool, throwing out the items into the stands to the crowds delight. They received a loud ovation from Grand Rapids.

This is palpable. This doesn’t just happen! It takes a team that really bonds and likes each other to do something like this. When Jennings returns, we’re gonna be so damn good. The Drive scored 130 points with some nice defense and steady dunking all game long. We had a blast!

At one point, Jackson refereed a kid’s halftime game, quite lovingly. And Drummond put on a half court shooting display for us, his specialty.

I was surprised to see fans leave halfway through the 4th, especially on a Saturday night. They missed the Detroit stars’ exit, where they gracefully signed some more autographs and slowly worked their way to the players tunnel. I made sure to get close and tell them how proud we are of them, how hard I see them working, and we all chanted MVP! MVP! for the big man – he tried to stay stoic, but a grin couldn’t help but cross his face.


This is the 3rd generation of Bad Boys. They won over an entire city, the largest outside of Detroit in this state. Thanks so much for showing out, Gs.