One of the things I love about running an NBA fan account in the UK, is the fantastic NBA UK community that I get to be a part of.
Everyone is super supportive of each other's work and I wanted to show my support by helping you get to know the people behind the fan accounts.
So, without further ado, here is Getting to Know the NBA UK Community.
Part 1 - 3 of the boys behind @NBA_UKfans
What’s your name, where do you come from and who are you reppin?
NBA UK FANS & GingerShaq
How did you discover basketball?
When was a Young Fella, was well aware of it (Space Jam) then went to Secondary School played it in PE loved it but was awful & it then fell to the way side, a good 6 years later a Friend was at UNI & pretty skint so for Xmas bought me a Older version of 2K & after a few weeks was round his and we put it on & boom we where hooked, cue the Time we finished playing being about 1am there was a Game tipping off and we where then hooked! & my love affair began.
Who do you support?
The Greatest Franchise in NBA History The Chicago Bulls.
Why do you support your team?
1. Liverpool fan so a team in red who's past glory was well known but hadn't been successful in recent times (Changed for LFC hopefully Bulls soon) was a big factor.
2. The aforementioned game was Bulls / Mars & seeing DRose dominate and Noah it was a true delight and I was won over very quickly, the pace & power was just amazing truly DRose is the Bulls player who made me fall in love with Chi-Town
3. MJ + Space Jam = Bulls
If you had to choose 1 game to convince a new basketball fan to support your team, what game would it be?
Game 1 2009: Bulls / Bos (Rose went off)
You need to build a 3 x 3 team, choose your current favourite player and your all-time favourite player to join you.
Me, MJ & Dame
Have you ever had the opportunity to go to a live NBA game, if so when & where? If you’ve been to more than one which was your favourite?
I have been fortunate enough to attend Numerous NBA London games and the Practises that accompany the week & my favourite had to be the Raps/ Magic.
I've yet to see my wonderful Bulls in action but I will one day!
What are your social media handles or websites where fans can find you?
GingerShaq:
TikTok
What’s your name, where do you come from and who are you reppin?
My name is Rich Barrett, I’m from Solihull in the West Midlands and I represent NBA UK FANS
How did you discover basketball?
When I was in year nine in school (a long time ago) I had one friend who also liked basketball and we sat together in French class. It coincided with channel 4 starting to cover it with three weekly shows. I was hooked before I knew it. Checking teletext for scores every morning and getting as much of it as I could. Televisions and magazines as the internet wasn’t a thing back then!
Who do you support?
Growing up I was fixated like many on Jordan’s Bulls team that completely dominated and won another three peat but in the early 2000s I landed on the Celtics and have never looked back. There’s been highs (and lows) but I count myself lucky to be a fan of such a brilliant team. Could be worse I could be a magic fan. Sorry Geraint
Why do you support your team?
My love for the Celtics has a lot to do with Paul Pierce. I loved how he played. His fearlessness and how he became the guy that was built around until that incredible championship in 2008.
If you had to choose 1 game to convince a new basketball fan to support your team, what game would it be? I’m gonna go against the grain here. I think people should fall in love with a team the way I did: finding their own ‘basketball home’ it’s important to pick your team for your own reasons. Some friends of mine Josh and Rashidah recently got into basketball and they fell in love with the Miami Heat. That was even before their incredible run to the finals. You’ve gotta pick your team for you own reasons. We all have different tastes.
You need to build a 3 x 3 team, choose your current favourite player and your all-time favourite player to join you.
Damian Lillard and Kevin Garnett ENOUGH SAID
Have you ever had the opportunity to go to a live NBA game, if so when & where? If you’ve been to more than one which was your favourite?
I have. I went to watch Portland at Phoenix back in 1996: it wasn’t a classic by any stretch however I got to see the round mound of rebound sir Charles Barkley plying his trade and also one of my all time favourites Clifford Robinson aka uncle cliffy (rip)
What are your social media handles or websites where fans can find you?
Twitter:
Instagram: Nba_ukfans Rb82baz
What’s your name, where do you come from and who are you reppin?
My name is Jimmy Zincke, I’m from Portsmouth and I run the UK Chicago Bulls accounts.
How did you discover basketball?
I got in to basketball through my older cousin back in the early 90’s.
Regrettably, I stopped following the game and only got back in to it just over 4 years ago.
Who do you support?
CHICAGO BULLS BABY!
Why do you support your team?
Well, my cousin was a Chicago Bulls fan, so that was the team I watched too and after just moments of watching Michael Jordan, I fell in love with this team.
When I got back in to basketball, it was only natural to support the Bulls and despite very difficult times, I love this team now more than ever and I genuinely believe good times are coming back to Chicago.
If you had to choose 1 game to convince a new basketball fan to support your team, what game would it be?
This is tough because there have been so many amazing games. The first that comes to mind for me is June 14th 1998, NBA finals game 6 v Utah Jazz...... ‘THE SHOT’, completing a second Three-Peat and the last game of that truly unbelievable team.
You need to build a 3 x 3 team, choose your current favourite player and your all-time favourite player to join you.
Myself, Lauri Markkanen and Michael Jordan are coming for you!
Have you ever had the opportunity to go to a live NBA game, if so when & where? If you’ve been to more than one which was your favourite?
Unfortunately not! I was planning on getting out to Chicago this year but obviously the global pandemic put a halt to those plans. A tip to The Windy City is top of my list once the restrictions have eased and we’re allowed back in areas.
What are your social media handles or websites where fans can find you?
The account is @UKChicagoBulls on Twitter & Instagram (although my Insta isn’t as active as it should be and this is something I will be working on). My personal socials are @JimmyZincke
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