Kevin Garnett on Victor Wembanyama's movement at his size: Yao Ming and Shaq moved like 'big-a** oak trees'

Hall of Fame Boston Celtics big man Kevin Garnett’s Big Ticket Sports, in collaboration with the ProLeague Network, is launching a new 3-on-3 basketball league called STR33T. Basketball News’ Alex Kennedy, in a recent interview with Big Ticket Sports CEO George Daniel, discussed how the idea for STR33T came together and the potential of 3-on-3 basketball as it gains popularity, especially with its inclusion in the Olympics. STR33T will stand out from existing 3-on-3 leagues, such as Ice Cube’s Big3, due to its focus on quick games, adherence to Olympic and FIFA rules, and a lineup of dedicated street basketball players. STR33T also plans to include women’s and co-ed competitions. Garnett’s involvement as the face of the league adds credibility to what has been a slippery slope for 3-on-3 leagues so far. -via Celtics Wire / October 28, 2023

NBA legend Kevin Garnett, who has translated the intensity and charisma he displayed on the court to a successful media career, is helping to launch STR33T, a new 3×3 pro streetball league expected to begin play in early 2024. Garnett’s sports venture arm, Big Ticket Sports, is partnering with Pro League Network to bring the vision to life. -via CBSSports.com / October 27, 2023

STR33T will play under FIBA 3×3 rules, which the audience may be familiar with after the sport made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games, where the USA women’s team (made up of WNBA players Jackie Young, Stefanie Dolson, Kelsey Plum and Allisha Gray) took home the gold medal. Rather than former NBA players, STR33T will enlist 3×3 specialists looking to grow what has become one of the world’s most popular versions of basketball. -via CBSSports.com / October 27, 2023

Yao Ming was in New York as part of a U.S. trip last week by a group of 30 mainland Chinese visitors to promote people-to-people ties between the two countries ahead of a possible meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco in November. -via Forbes.com / October 31, 2023

In an interview with Forbes in New York last week, he expressed hope that the end of the Covid pandemic will pave the way for more young athletes from China, the world’s second most populous nation, to travel overseas and compete. “We’ve lost a lot of time because of the pandemic,” Yao said. “I’m glad this is over.” Now 43 years old and president of the Chinese Basketball Association, Yao sees ““more work to do with all of the basketball colleagues around the world.” -via Forbes.com / October 31, 2023

Erik Slater: Yao Ming is in the house for Nets-Cavs. -via Twitter @erikslater_ / October 25, 2023

“He’s a multifaceted player and he’ll pass it to the open guy. But he’s got confidence in himself and he made some plays that were unbelievable,” Popovich said. “That combination is pretty good, if you have that skill and you’re still willing to pass.” Spurs guard Jeremy Sochan added: “Were we amazed? I’m not sure, because we’ve seen that before.” Addressing his first five games in the NBA, Wembanyama said, “The biggest thing I’ve learned is a 20-point lead is nothing.” On his historic start, he added: “It just makes me want to go even higher to beat all these records.” -via The Athletic / November 3, 2023

Suns guard Devin Booker called Wembanyama “an unbelievable talent.” Booker added: “Everybody knows that. Just trying to figure out what he is, because we’ve never seen him before.” “They made the emphasis to exploit his size against our smalls and get a good few easy buckets in the paint,” Phoenix’s Kevin Durant said. “It paid off, he hit a three at the end because he saw the ball go through the rim, got a couple free throws. So, you know, he is a good player.” -via The Athletic / November 3, 2023

Jorge Sierra: Kevin Durant on Victor Wembanyama: “I know we are both skinny and I’m sure he said he watched me growing up, but he’s his own player.” pic.twitter.com/M9d14JvAIW -via Twitter @hoopshype / November 3, 2023