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Current
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Upcoming
Exhibitions || Off-site Exhibitions | Exhibition Archive |
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Oakland Museum at the Oakland International Airport
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Through April 20, 2000 |
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The Oakland/East Bay can lay claim to being the basketball center of the universe. Lofty claim you say? Does this area "have game?" The East Bay boasts some of the greatest players ever to hit the hardwood. Bill Russell, Paul Silas, Jim Pollard, Todd Lichti, Cliff Robinson, Gary Payton, Brian Shaw, Greg Foster, Lester Connor, and Jason Kidd are among the numerous home-grown NBA alumni. It is not a coincidence the East Bay boasts several NBA alumni. When you can hone yourself in the schoolyards of Oakland, your game can be elevated to the highest of levels. Jason Kidd and Gary Payton brought their skills to Oakland's pickup basketball courts and found the area's playground legends very worthy opponents. Oakland pickup hoop legend, Demetrious "Hook" Mitchell, brought a 48-inch vertical leap to his game and remained an undefeated slam-dunk champion. In the book, Hoops Nation, Mosswood Park in Oakland was ranked the 22nd best place to play pickup basketball in the entire United States. You can come to Mosswood in the summer and see NBA and college players mixing it up with the local legends. The East Bay can also claim an NCAA championship (Cal 1959), an ABA championship (Oakland Oaks 1969), an AAU championship (Oakland Bittners) and an NBA championship (Golden State Warriors)! If you are still not convinced, then lace up your sneakers and bring them to Oakland's Mosswood Park, and see in person some of the best pickup ball playing around. The East Bay is proud to host the NBA All-Star game February 13th. We welcome the chance to share our rich basketball history with our visitors. Please view the exhibit in Terminal One and in the connecting walkway between terminals and find out more about high school excellence, college play, and the best of the best who went on to NBA stardom. You can judge for yourself if the East Bay "has game" by the caliber of the players who grew up here, schooled here, and still call it home. |
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Jason Kidd is depicted driving to the basket for Alameda's St. Joseph's High School. Kidd led St. Joseph's to back to back Californian Interscholastic Federation Division I titles in 1991 and 1992. He went on to star at the University of California, Berkeley and was a lottery pick of the Dallas Mavericks. Kidd currently is a perennial all-star for the Phoenix Suns and wears the number 32Šthe same number he wore at St. Joseph. Photograph by Daniel J. Murphy, 1992 The Oakland Tribune Collection, gift of the Alameda Newspaper Group Collection of the Oakland Museum of California |
Gary Payton (left), Oakland Skyline High graduate (1985) is shown having his jersey number retired by his former high school coach, Fred Noel. Payton received a scholarship from Oregon State University and enjoyed a successful college career before being drafted by the Seattle Supersonics. Gary's nickname is the "Glove" due to his defensive prowess. He has achieved NBA superstar status in leading Seattle to numerous playoff appearances. Photograph by Matthew J. Lee, 1990 The Oakland Tribune Collection, gift of the Alameda Newspaper Group Collection of the Oakland Museum of California |
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East
Bay Hoops
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2000 Oakland Museum of California
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Credits
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510-238-2200 |