The White Mamba’s playing days aren’t over just yet.
Brian Scalabrine, a former NBA forward and fan favorite who won a title with the Boston Celtics in 2008, is one of several former NBA and college players who will compete in a rapidly-growing tradition: “The Basketball Tournament.”
The title isn’t exactly inspiring, but the event actually is pretty cool. A total of 97 teams will enter the single-elimination tournament that runs from July 10-12 at Fordham University, and the grand prize is a cool $1 million.
Naturally, that kind of cash has drawn some big names, and more than 40 former NBA players have signed up, including Scalabrine, Nate Robinson and Royce White.
Most teams consist of alums from big-name college programs, such as a team called “Boeheim’s Army” that features former Syracuse stars Hakim Warrick and Eric Devendorf.
But the squad to watch clearly is Scalabrine’s, which is headed by New Hampshire native and San Antonio Spurs sharpshooter Matt Bonner and also includes point guard Jason Williams, former Texas star Royal Ivey and actor Michael Rapaport.
If that collection of talent isn’t a recipe for success, we don’t know what is.
The tournament began with just 55 teams last year and only featured a $500,000 prize, so the event clearly is taking off. With Scalabrine involved, though, that’s hardly surprising.
Thumbnail photo via Mike DiNovo/USA TODAY Sports Images
