THE FLATS – MLK Day celebration hits home for Atlanta native Derrick Favors … Thaddeus Young judged one of the NBA’s most underrated players … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.
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FOR FAVORS, MLK DAY CELEBRATION HITS CLOSE TO HOME
When Thunder center Derrick Favors runs out onto the floor on Monday night in Dallas, he’ll be donning a warmup shirt developed by the NBA that pays homage to a specific moment in American history.
With a script designed after the carrying signs held at a rally just days after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the shirts will read “NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE JUSTICE A REALITY FOR ALL”, with “HONOR KING” on the back. During the NBA’s celebration of MLK Day, which features 12 games and 24 of the 30 teams in action, the focus will not only be on the basketball, but also on the legacy of King’s fight for equality.
“It’s a special day, a special moment, a special game,” said Favors. “It’s an opportunity to come out there and remember what he represented, remember what he stood for and make that a great day to play basketball.”
While Dr. King’s legacy is honored across America and the NBA always places an extra emphasis on the day, for Favors the celebration hits a little closer to home, literally. As a standout at South Atlanta High School, Favors grew up less than 20 minutes away from Dr. King’s homes on Auburn Avenue and Sunset Avenue, Morehouse College which King attended as an undergraduate, Ebenezer Baptist Church where King served as a minister and Rich’s Department Store where King led a famous sit-in.
When Favors matriculated to Georgia Tech for college, he was within 10 minutes of all those destinations. On MLK Day 2022, which lands two days after what would have been Dr. King’s 93rd birthday, those historic Atlanta landmarks are still revered. These days, there are also countless murals with his face and quotes on them, not to mention the King Center which is just steps away from Dr. King’s birth home and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Park, all within a short drive from where Favors grew up and spends time in the offseason.
Derrick Favors on trade talk: “I think every year I’ve been in the league, my name’s been in trade rumors … I’m pretty much used to it. I don’t really pay attention to it. I try to control what I can control. I try to, like coach says, keep my feet grounded where I’m at.”
— Joe Mussatto (@joe_mussatto) January 16, 2022
Derrick Favors is here pic.twitter.com/vJxq3yHGq8
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) January 15, 2022
Derrick Favors says he thinks the team is heading in the right direction and says that if he was a younger player he would love to play for the Thunder
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) January 15, 2022
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YOUNG CALLED ONE OF NBA’S MOST UNDERRATED PLAYERS
The Chicago Bulls fanbase is pretty fond of Thaddeus Young.
There is a great appreciation for the work he put in for 2 years in Chicago. However, the Bulls had to part ways with him to secure DeMar DeRozan in a sign-and-trade deal with the San Antonio Spurs, thus you won’t hear many grumblings considering Deebo is having an MVP season. Young isn’t playing much with the Spurs, but when he does, he is still producing. Perhaps that’s why Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey has him regarded as one of the NBA’s most underrated players.
Bailey called Young and end-of-the-bench guy, but that’s not what his per-75-possessions metrics suggest.
“After a legitimate breakout campaign in his age-32 season with the Chicago Bulls, Thaddeus Young has found himself in and out of Gregg Popovich’s rotation with the San Antonio Spurs in 2021-22,” Bailey writes. “When he does get the chance to play, though, he continues to look like a versatile, playmaking big who can defend multiple positions. Since the start of last season, Young has a top-40 assist rate, with averages of 17.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 6.4 dimes, 1.7 steals and 0.8 blocks per 75 possessions.”
Yo! We got a Thaddeus Young sighting! #GoSpursGo #PorVida pic.twitter.com/P2s6VScjSt
— Joe Garcia (@twoshotspodcast) January 20, 2022
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24 SECONDS: JOSE ALVARADO AT MIDPOINT OF ROOKIE YEAR
This month as part of our “24 Seconds” weekly Q&A series, Pelicans.com is checking in with New Orleans’ rookies to ask them about their adjustment to the professional level, at the halfway mark of the 2021-22 regular season. This week’s edition features undrafted two-way contract player Jose Alvarado, who recently has moved into a role as an every-game member of Willie Green’s rotation.
“I’m at the Garden, I won, and I’m doing the interview with y’all. And my people are right there… you can’t make that up.”
13 points, 4 steals, and 4 assists off the bench. What an incredible evening for Jose Alvarado 💛 @PelicansNBA | #WBD pic.twitter.com/QrQAnj3sst
— Bally Sports New Orleans (@BallySportsNO) January 21, 2022
