In the midst of NBA finals, Golden State Warriors General Manager Bob Myers and assistant GM Kirk Lacob played some basketball on their own against the San Quentin Warriors. Myers played for the Green Team and led with 26 points and 23 rebounds in their 85-79 victory.
“I think it (coming into San Quentin) shows that we care and that people are people no matter what station you are in life,” said Myers.
It was June 6, the day before game two of the Golden State Warriors NBA finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the biggest moment for the Warriors in 40 years—the last time they reached the finals.
“When I play basketball, I forget about everything else. It’s a good release for my mind,” said Myers.
“Basketball is my calm place, my happy place,” added Lacob. “Playing hard is a release from life. When I play basketball, I don’t have to worry about anything except what’s happening here on the court.”
It was a sunny day with a strong breeze that didn’t seem to hamper jump shots. The S.Q. Warriors came out in the first quarter with great energy and got off to a 4-0 run, then Myers nailed three-pointers back-to-back, taking the lead and setting the tone.
“I didn’t have to do a lot — just get the ball to Bob,” said Evan Fjelds.
Ben Illegbodu defied the wind as well, nailing jump shots and helping the Green Team take a 17-point first quarter lead. He was the Green Team’s second leading scorer with 23 points. By halftime, Myers had 19 points and 11 rebounds and the Green Team was ahead, 49-26.
At halftime, S.Q. Warrior GM Robert “Bishop” Butler addressed all participants at mid-court, along with Christian Sports Ministry’s Green Team player Brandon Curtis.
“Whatever you do, act like the world is watching,” said Butler in his inspirational message.
Curtis advised, “Use your time wisely, because you never know how the Lord will use it to make you prosper.”
The S.Q. Warriors had a chance to win in the fourth quarter. After being down 20 points in the first half, Harry “ATL” Smith led them back to within four.
Smith stole the ball and dribbled down court for a layup to make the score 81-77 with 50 seconds left in the game.
However, former overseas pro Griffin Reilly sealed the deal for the Green Team by driving baseline, coming up under the far side of the basket for a reverse. He was fouled and completed the “and-one,” making the score 84-77.
The S.Q. Warriors tried intentional fouling to stop the clock but couldn’t complete the comeback.
Smith was unstoppable. He scored several times with his shoulder pressed against of the chest of defenders. He made 14 of 20 shots and led the Warriors with 30 points and 10 rebounds.
“ATL is tough. If you take away the basket, he’ll hit you with a jumper,” said Reilly.
Allan McIntosh added 20 points. Anthony Ammons had a double-double, scoring 13 points and snatching 12 rebounds. However, Ammons only hit 5 of 23 shots from the field.
The Green Team came with one of the deepest rosters of talent they ever brought into San Quentin. The depth of young talent made them better than the last time Myers played in Quentin with former NBA players Luke Walton and Jarren Collins as teammates. They lost the September 2014 game to the S.Q. Warriors, 92-88, when Myers dropped 27 points.
The Green Team also lost its first two games of the 2015 San Quentin basketball season.
“We went down 0-2; we have to bring all the big guns,” said Ilegbodu.
They returned with former overseas pros Evan Fjelds and Reilly; former Washington Generals Antoine Maddox, and several former college players like Pat Lacey, Kyle Flowers, Justis Willis, Ilegbodu, Charles Lowery, and Mike Picone, plus Curtis. Also suited up in Green for the first time in two years was recent Washington University (in St. Louis) graduate and ex-point guard Kent Lacob, Kirk’s brother and a future Golden State employee.
“They brought in some good talent. Sometimes basketball IQ and teamwork can outdo athleticism and potential,” said Smith.
Kent Lacob came off the bench and got a steal as soon as he entered the game. He also connected with his brother to drop a three-pointer.
Myers, who is 40 years old, was recently chosen as the NBA Executive of the Year.
“It’s an award that singles me out but you can’t get that without a lot of help,” confided Myers. “To be voted on by other GMs means a lot.”
Myers plays like a man who should have been a pro. Averaging 32 points a game, he has led the Green Team in scoring every time he played in San Quentin — even with former NBA players as teammates. He did play for UCLA’s 1995 championship team.
“I was 5-foot-7 in high school. I didn’t get good at basketball until my senior year at college. I missed my window,” said Myers, who is now about 6-foot-7.
After the game, S.Q. Warrior Smith expressed the team’s appreciation that the Golden State executives had taken the time to come into San Quentin. “Here we are here incarcerated and, through basketball, meeting guys who are doing great things out in the world,” he said.