To rejoice SLAM’s thirtieth anniversary, we’re spotlighting the 30 most influential males’s school groups from our previous 30 years. Stats, data and chips aren’t the principle issue right here, it’s all about their contribution to the sport’s cultural material.
For the following 30 days—Monday by Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full list here. We’ve additionally obtained an unique retro collegiate assortment, out now, that pays homage to every squad’s threads. Shop here.
The All-American sensation of Jason Kidd. The prolific scoring of Lamond Murray. The 1993-94 California Bears noticed a season stuffed with gold headlined by their fifth-ever Candy 16 look. Draped in shimmering yellow-gold threads, this Cal squad was on the epicenter of the Golden State.
Contemporary off being named the Pac-10 Freshman of the 12 months, Jason Kidd dropped 16.7 factors per recreation as a sophomore, allotting 9.1 assists, 6.9 rebounds and three.1 steals. The stocky 6-4 Bay Space native breezed previous the college’s earlier report of most assists in a season with 272.
Pair Kidd with a scintillating scorer like Murray, and it was recreation over for the Pac-10. Murray scored a team-high 24.3 factors within the ‘94 season and hauled down 7.9 rebounds per recreation. The Pasadena native was the most effective scorers this system had seen, and he would turn into the Bears’ all-time scoring chief with 1,688 factors, rating him at No. 4. Kidd’s sorcery and Murray’s athleticism pressured opponents right into a persistent state of concern. Lobs, behind-the-back dimes, no-looks, skips and shovel passes might come from anyplace at any time. With the ball in Kidd’s palms, even should you thought you weren’t open, you had been open.
Whereas Murray was identified for his quiet and stoic demeanor—phrase is he’d rock his headphones and Walkman round campus with no music enjoying—the 6-7 junior ahead’s recreation was something however silent. When you wanted a bucket? Lamond Murray. Searching for a transition spotlight? Lamond Murray. Who was getting the play name within the huddle? Once more, Lamond Murray.
As for Kidd, he was cemented as the most effective gamers to come back out of the Bay Space, a real hometown hero of the West Coast. The previous Naismith Participant of the 12 months in highschool launched this system to their first style of nationwide prominence. With Kidd consistently drawing nationwide attract, The Golden Bears had been pressured to maneuver a few of their dwelling video games to the Oakland Coliseum the yr prior as ticket gross sales demanded a bigger venue. Kidd’s showmanship on the hardwood was so attractive that the Golden Bears had been hooping in entrance of sold-out crowds for 2 straight seasons. Now, Kidd’s illustrious No.5 jersey hangs within the rafters of Haas Pavilion, cementing his legacy in Golden Bears historical past.
Then there have been the likes of Monty Buckley, Ryan Jamison, Alfred Grigsby and Ok.J. Roberts. The recruiting Class of ‘91, alongside Kidd and Murray, had been the giants of the West. Their preparation was completely different. Summer time exercises at Harmon Gymnasium consisted of going in opposition to the NBA’s finest. Sport reps with the likes of Tim Hardaway, Gary Payton, Brian Shaw, Antonio Davis, Mitch Richmond, Steve Nash and Chris Mullin had been nearly an unfair benefit. However hey, that’s the perks of being in Cali. Fixed battles in opposition to the League’s finest eviscerated any concern that will have arisen all through the 93-94 season.
Showtime was actually happening within the Oakland Coliseum. With Kidd as lead orchestrator, the Cal Bears enacted a masterful symphony every evening. Followers thrived for quick break alternatives, and the Bears delivered. Dishevelled mesh threads flying throughout the hardwood. Nasty no-look dimes resulting in rim-rocking dunks. This model of basketball was simply completely different.
Pictures through Getty Photos.
