Streetball in Puerto Rico facts for kids
Basketball is super popular in Puerto Rico, and that's why streetball is a big deal there too! Streetball is like basketball played on outdoor courts, often with fewer rules and lots of cool moves. It's been a part of the sport in Puerto Rico for many years.
Many Puerto Rican players who grew up in New York City (called Nuyoricans) brought their streetball style back to the island. This helped connect streetball with the main professional league, the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). Organized streetball really took off in the early 2000s. It became linked to local urban culture, especially Hip hop and Reggaeton music. Teams like Puerto Rico Streetball became famous. Puerto Rican teams have even played against international teams, including the well-known AND1 Live Tour Team, and won! Teams from Puerto Rico are now part of the Street Basketball Association and FIBA's 3x3 program. Team San Juan even won the first-ever FIBA 3x3 World Tour championship.
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Streetball's Roots in New York and Puerto Rico
How Nuyorican Players Changed the Game
When Puerto Ricans first moved to New York in the 1940s and 50s, it was sometimes hard for them to play basketball with other groups. But soon, players from their neighborhoods became known for their amazing skills.
Héctor Blondet is famous for connecting New York basketball with Puerto Rico. He started playing in his teens and even played against legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at the Rucker Basketball Tournaments. Blondet and Fernando Torres were the first two players to join Puerto Rico's main professional league, the BSN, even though the league first tried to stop them.
Blondet brought a bold, new style of play to the BSN. He was nicknamed "El Mago" (The Magician) because of his incredible passing and skills. He opened the door for other Nuyorican players with his streetball moves. Blondet later joined the Puerto Rico men's national basketball team and became an Olympian.
This led to a wave of talented Nuyorican players. Three of them became known as "Los Tres Reyes" (The Three Kings): Raymond Dalmau, Rúben Rodríguez, and Neftalí Rivera.
Rubén Rodríguez quickly became a star in Brooklyn. He was brought to the BSN by the Vaqueros de Bayamón. This team was one of the first to bring players from New York to play in Puerto Rico. Rodríguez became one of the first Nuyorican players to join the national team.
Neftalí Rivera brought his unique shot from New York courts to the BSN. It was called "El Tornillo" (The Corkscrew). This 360-degree, 35-foot jump shot was known as "the unblockable shot." Rivera set a BSN record by scoring 79 points in one game, which is still a record today! He also played for the national team.
The last of "Los Tres Reyes" was Raymond Dalmau. He grew up playing in New York and learned many streetball moves. Dalmau chose to stay in the BSN instead of joining the NBA. This allowed him to play for the national team, where he became a huge star. He played his whole career for the Piratas de Quebradillas.
The success of Blondet and "Los Tres Reyes" in the BSN and national team greatly influenced Puerto Rican communities in New York. Especially in Spanish Harlem, basketball became super popular. Outdoor courts like White Park were always busy with pickup games. This excitement eventually led to the Hispanic Superior Basketball league, where Nuyorican streetballers were the top players.
Many other Nuyorican players became famous during this time. César Fantauzzi was known as "Spanish Doc" for his amazing jump shots. He played in the BSN and briefly for the national team. Ángel "Ángelo" Cruz was known for his dribbling and dunking. He played for the Indios de Canóvanas and the national team. Cruz helped bring Andrés "Corky" Ortíz, another streetball talent, to the Gigantes de Carolina.
Héctor Olivencia, from the Bronx, also joined the BSN at just 16 years old. He played pickup games at Rucker Park. Alfred "Butch" Lee, raised in New York, became a top Nuyorican player in the 1970s. He constantly played at Rucker Park, improving his skills. Lee was the first Puerto Rican picked in the NBA Draft. He was also the first to win an NBA championship ring in 1980 with the Lakers. Lee played for the Cardenales de Río Piedras in the BSN, winning a championship in 1976. He was also the starting point guard for Puerto Rico in the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
Georgie Torres, another Bronx native, was known as a sharpshooter. He played 26 seasons in the BSN! Wes Correa, from Queens, learned to play on makeshift hoops. He became famous in the national team by scoring 36 points against a USA team that included Michael Jordan. James Carter, from Queens, joined the BSN and was nicknamed "El Presidente." He also became a national team player.
Streetball Meets Urban Culture
In 1987, Bobbito García, also known as "Kool Love Bob," was playing streetball. A former BSN player saw his talent and suggested he try out for the Capitanes de Arecibo. García played in the BSN and later became a key figure in the streetball scene of the 1990s.
García also worked for Def Jam Recordings, where he started a DJ career linked to Hip Hop. He combined his love for music and basketball. He became an announcer and host for many streetball events, and he kept playing too. He co-founded Bounce magazine in 2003, which promoted streetball, urban fashion, and pro basketball. García has continued to promote streetball through various programs and events. He even co-directed a documentary called Doin' It In The Park: Pick-Up Basketball, NY.
Another Hip Hop star involved in streetball is rapper Fat Joe. He created the Terror Squad Team, which plays in New York Summer Leagues. Danny Reyes' Red Eye NYC Street Ballers also visit Puerto Rico often for games.
The 1990s also saw new Nuyorican talents like Larry "El Exterminador" Ayuso. Ayuso played streetball for money in the Bronx. He joined the BSN in 1996 and became the national team's shooting guard. He was amazing at the 2006 FIBA World Championships, scoring 62% from three-point range.
Tim "Headache" Gittens, called the "Jackie Robinson of Street Basketball," greatly influenced the sport. He was one of the first to bring a new, wild style to playground basketball. He later played in the BSN. Gittens also helped create the original AND1 Team.
The 2000s brought shooting guard Rick Apodaca. He started playing streetball in New York and New Jersey. He joined the BSN and the national team. Apodaca stayed connected to streetball. In 2005, he was sponsored by K1X, a clothing brand, which nicknamed him "Open Bar." He played for the K1X Streetball Team and was nicknamed "Instant Offense" for his quick scoring.
Carmelo Anthony is half-Puerto Rican and grew up playing basketball on asphalt streets in New York. He earned the nickname "Little New York." Even though he plays for the United States, he honors his Puerto Rican heritage. He has a tattoo of the Puerto Rican flag on his shooting hand. Anthony has also organized 3-on-3 tournaments. He visited Puerto Rico and helped restore the old streetball court in La Perla in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Corey Fisher also started as a streetballer, playing at Rucker and Dyckman. In 2004, Ray "X-Ray" Rivera, a former BSN player, had a serious car accident. Doctors said his career was over, but he was encouraged to keep going. Rivera then formed his own streetball team, PR Pride. They played against other teams and became very successful. In 2008, PR Pride set a record by scoring 178 points in a game!
New Generation of Players: The Nietos
The 2010s saw new players join the national team. Renaldo "Taz" Balkman was drafted into the NBA without playing in the BSN first. He often plays in streetball events in New York. Maurice "Moe" Harkless also followed this path, drafted into the NBA after being recruited by Puerto Rico's Basketball Federation.
Jerron Love, a point guard from the Bronx, started playing after his father noticed his ball handling skills. His father found a local streetballer to teach him. Mike Rosario, from New Jersey, grew up playing streetball and joined the national team. Other players like Shabbazz Napier and Ricardo "Ricky" Ledo also caught the national team's attention.
Streetball in Puerto Rico
PR Streetball and PR Streetballers Teams
Many players in Puerto Rico start playing basketball informally on outdoor courts. These games often have few rules and are a great way to find new talent. Games like 21, pickups, 3-on-3, and dunking contests are common. Some players, like Jonathan Vélez and Raymond Cintrón, grew up on these courts and later joined youth national programs.
The first big effort to organize streetball in Puerto Rico happened in the early 2000s. In 2002, Puerto Rico Streetball was formed. They held tryouts across the island to find players. The team members used cool nicknames, like "Dement," "Air Machine," and "Inhuman." The team played exhibition games in low-income areas and public housing projects. They also performed in places like La Perla and Vieques. The team became connected to the popular reggaeton music scene, working with stars like Daddy Yankee.
This led to a DVD called Puerto Rico Streetball, Vol. 1 in 2004. It featured many of the team's players. In 2005, Puerto Rico Streetball played an exhibition game against the professional team, Capitanes de Arecibo. They also played against the Terror Squad team before the Puerto Rican Day Parade in 2006. Coca-Cola also sponsored 3-on-3 streetball tournaments called Sprite 3 pa' 3.
The famous Team AND1 visited Puerto Rico in 2005 as part of their World Tour. Puerto Rico Streetball added more players, including Bobbito García, for this game. The game was exciting, with lots of highlights. It was later shown on Streetball on ESPN in 2006. AND1 point guard, Grayson "The Professor" Boucher, called it "one of the best international games [ever] witnessed."
Puerto Rico Streetball continues to organize shows. In 2011, they played in the Torneo Carlos Arroyo. The Basketball Federation of Puerto Rico also started organizing open 3-on-3 tournaments that same year.
Team AND1 returned to Puerto Rico in 2012 for their Live Tour. They played against the new Puerto Rico Streetballers team. This team included many BSN players like Renaldo Balkman and José Juan Barea as their coach. The Puerto Rico Streetballers won the game 88 to 85. This was AND1's first loss to an international team in six years! Filiberto Rivera was named the game's MVP.
Puerto Rico's Global Impact in Streetball
Streetball Association and FIBA 3x3
Puerto Rico is part of the Street Basketball Association's International Street Basketball Federation. This group helps promote streetball around the world. Puerto Rico is one of only two members from North and Central America, along with the United States. As a member, Puerto Rico can play in the SBA Street Ball World Cup.
FIBA (the international basketball federation) decided to create 3-on-3 tournaments based on streetball. This was because 3-on-3 is popular even in countries without a strong basketball tradition. They created a new division called FIBA 3x3. The first FIBA Americas workshop for this program was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 2012.
The first worldwide 3x3 event was at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics. Puerto Rico sent a team of young players. They won their first game against India. They played tough games against European teams, losing by small margins. They later defeated Egypt and Turkey.
The first FIBA 3x3 Youth World Championship was in 2011. Puerto Rico's team played well, winning against India, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, and Ukraine.
For senior players, the 3x3 World Tour was created. A team of BSN reserve players from San Juan, coached by Álex Rivera, represented the city. They won their first game at the New York Master. They kept winning, beating teams from Dallas, Edmonton, and Orlando. They reached the finals but lost a close game. However, they qualified for the 3x3 World Tour Finals.
The finals were held in Miami in 2012. Team San Juan played incredibly well. They defeated teams from Miami, Bucharest, and Neuquén. In the quarterfinals, they got revenge on the team that beat them in New York. In the semifinals, they defeated an undefeated team from Edmonton. In the final game, San Juan won 20-16, becoming the first FIBA 3x3 World Tour champion!
Team San Juan returned in 2013 to defend their title. They won the first stage of the San Juan Master. Other local teams also joined this event.
Streetball in Pop Culture
Streetball in Puerto Rico became so famous that it was included in video games. The game Street Hoops featured a fictional team called the "San Juan Coquís." It also had a home court stage based on a court in Old San Juan. The game AND 1 Streetball included Parque Damaso Rosa in Luquillo, Puerto Rico as an international stage.
Starting in 2005, the AND1 brand worked with Puerto Rico national team captain, Carlos Arroyo. He was famous in professional leagues. Arroyo promoted clothes and shoes for AND1 and showed off his streetball skills in videos. He also appeared in video games like NBA Street Vol. 2.
Carmelo Anthony appeared in several NBA Street games wearing his team's uniform. Bobbito García, the streetball expert, was an announcer for these games and the NBA 2K franchise.
In 2015, a documentary called Nuyorican Básquet was announced. It focuses on how Puerto Rican players from New York influenced basketball on the island. The film highlights the Puerto Rico men's national basketball team from the 1979 Pan American Games. Many players on that team were from New York.
Streetball has also influenced urban fashion. The first shoe to feature the flag of Puerto Rico was the Nike Air Force 1 Puerto Rican Flag edition in 1999. This design was very popular and started a trend. Many brands, including AND1 and Reebok, have since released shoes with the Puerto Rican flag. Jordan Brand's Melo line, honoring Carmelo Anthony, also releases apparel with Puerto Rican themes every year.
Images for kids
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Basketball court in La Perla in Old San Juan
