NYC STREET BALL · RUCKER PARK

On 155th Street in Harlem sits a court with the same dimensions as NBA hardwood. The surface is asphalt, the lighting is decades old, and the luxury suites are old bleachers that, on a summer evening, cry under the weight of several hundred people packing into every available inch of space. Why did Kobe, Kevin Durant and countless others make it a point to play here? The opportunity to play real street ball, at a level that originated the term 'ankle breaker' and puts NBA stars face to face with players the league never found. Rucker Park is named in honour of Holcombe Rucker, a former Parks employee, that started organizing basketball tournaments in the 1950's. He wanted to keep young people in the game and the tournaments he established have outlived him by decades. Through the years basketball greats such as Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, Julius Erving, and many more have added to the park's mythology and prestige. The basketball at this park is fundamentally different; the rules, court, and ball are the same but the intensity, lack of foul calls and unseen handles, that happen on a daily basis, require a level of courage to step onto the blacktop to compete. Come tournament time, players are ready to play iso, show off handles and even surprise the fans with big dunks that posterize opponents. To the big names that attend, it is another notch on their belt to show they can handle basketball at the street level, facing off against unafraid opponents. Atmosphere at Rucker's is sensational; hype man on the mic, commentators and DJs are all key elements of the event, and when paired with the crowd noise, offer a transcendent experience to those who make their way north of Central Park. Play-by-play announcement is real time, with some calls becoming part of the tournament's lore. Phrases and nicknames earned here have even followed players into professional leagues. The Pro Summer League runs through July and August and player invites are entirely based on reputation and relationships. Scouts from professional teams attend regularly, hoping to spot a surprise talent; this approach has resulted in professional careers and has also resulted in reputations left on the court in the same afternoon. Games have been running for over seventy years, and with a recent renovation, there is no end in sight. While the neighbourhood has gentrified and the players who pass through change each season, the identity, quality and energy have remained the same with a new layer added with every generation. THE CULTURE X TAKE: Rucker Park combines the best parts of street ball culture. It has been the backdrop to some of basketball's best unscripted moments and it will be again this summer.