The Fundamentals Academy

#Discover The Athlete

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The Golden State Era of Basketball

The rest of the NBA should just go home and start preparing for next season. It is a foregone conclusion that the Golden State Warriors will set the single season record for wins and are going Back-to-Back as NBA champions. They are just too good. San Antonio the second best team in the league is also very good, but this is the Golden State era of basketball and very good ain’t good enough. 

A lot of my friends and family are excited to watch the NBA playoffs this season and I just don’t get it. If the regular season and last year’s playoffs are any indication of what’s to come, then we already know it’s a wrap for this season. Sorry Lebron, but the only way your winning another championship is if you take your talents to Golden State. You can call me Nostradamus if you want, but Ray Charles could see this future. Steph will win the MVP again, Golden State will run through the Western Conference, and the Championship Series will be over before it even starts. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the writing is on the wall. Until OKC learns how to play as a team, Chris Paul learns to pass the ball before taking 12 dribbles, and San Antonio gets younger there is no real threat to the Warriors. 

This is the Golden State era of basketball and the Warriors have proven to be just that, Warriors. The combination of Steph’s skills, Klay’s shooting, Draemond’s desire to win, and their talented supporting cast has produced a brand of team basketball that is just beautiful to watch and devastating to opponents. They are the younger more skilled version of the Spurs and that combo is Golden.  I hope the rest of the league is taking notes and is inspired by the Warriors to get in the gym this offseason. NBA teams please work on your DEFENSE, TEAM OFFENSE and the FUNDAMENTALS for God’s Sake, because if not next year the Warriors are going to 3peat and don’t say I didn’t warn you.

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Coach T and Coach Matt dancing with the kids in a FunBall class. Dancing is so liberating and builds confidence. Everybody should rock out to at least one song a day. #fundamentalsacademy #discovertheathlete #dancing #fun #youthcoaching #sports (at Wasington DC)

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“SuperCam”

The Carolina Panthers are 13-0 this season. A very improbable start after finishing 7-9 last year, but still making the playoffs due to the inept NFC South, and winning one road playoff game to prove a sub .500 team deserves to be in the playoffs. The Panthers season seemed bleak at best. They lost their leading receiver Kelvin Benjamin to injury and linebacker Luke Keuchly to a concussion. So how are they still undeafeated?

Cornerback Josh Norman has stepped up on D, emerging into the second coming of Dion Sanders. For 3 games in a row, not one receiver caught a pass while he was defending them. Keuchly returned week 6 and the Panthers D has been dominant ever since. But what about offense? Would quarterback Cam Newton rise to the occasion? Cam has been perceived as a reluctant leader, a brat and a sore loser that would sulk with his head in a towel. Not this year. He is still the same player that hates to lose, but this year he does something about it. This year, he leaves it all on the field.

Cam has thrown for 5 tds in two games this year and has become the team leader. He sets the tone with his bigger than life personality, his work ethic and no “I” in team mentality. Cam could care less about numbers and cares only about Ws, throwing TDs to players Corey Brown, Devin Funchess and Ted Ginn Jr, who has the second most dropped passes in the league behind Brandon “if the ball hits me in the hands I am going to drop it” Lafell.

The Panthers have finally been able to rely on Cam Newton, QB1, a clear MVP candidate, who is doing it all on offense. This season Cam has amassed over 3,000 passing yards, 28 throwing touchdowns, 480 rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns. He is basically Tom Brady and Lagarette Blount in one player. In a league where they heavily advise the QBs to slide feet first to avoid contact, he is the one QB where they call designed runs for him, and he almost always slides head first to pick up more yards.

Does he resemble someone to you? Is it a bird, is it a plane, NO it’s SuperCam!! Will the Panthers go 16-0? Maybe. But one thing is for sure, the rest of the league better consult with Lex Luther for some Kryptonite, because if not SuperCam and the Panthers D are unstoppable.

Coach Omar

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Brothers pushing each other to get better under the lights. Working on Defense and handling the pressure through using Triple Threat. Don't let anything get in your way of improving!!! Whether it is The weather or the lack of light. Where there is a will there is a way! #discovertheathlete #fundamentalsacademy #masterthefundamentals #nba #basketball #youthsports #defense #triplethreat #will (at Falls Church, Virginia)

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Kobe Bryant Gives a Classic Goodbye to the Verizon Center

The Washington Wizards are my favorite professional sports team, but this wasn’t always the case. Back in my formidable years, when I was about ten, the Los Angeles Lakers ruled the NBA and everyone either loved them or hated them. I loved the Lakers. They gave me a reason to wear purple and yellow with pride, colors that boys rarely wore at my school. They had Shaquille O'neal--The Diesel, Robert Horry--Big Shot Bob, and Phil freaking Jackson--The Zen Master. But there was one person, above all the rest, that really sparked my fandom for the Lakers, and his name was Kobe Bryant.

Just like the Lakers themselves, Kobe Bryant is generally loved or hated. He is loved for his brilliant play on the court, which has transformed over the years from a high flying aerial assault on the rim, to a completely polished all-around player that utilizes expert footwork, deadly shot fakes, spin moves, crossovers, fadeaways, post ups, pull ups… I could fill this page with all the different moves Kobe has mastered! He is loved for his work ethic that is so legendary the stories confirming Kobe’s insane all night workouts seem made up. He is loved for his attitude, his take no prisoners mentality, his opinion that he is the best player to have ever played and will ever play. 

It is usually Kobe’s attitude that starts to polarize the general public’s opinion of him. I love that Kobe thinks he is the best and that he will comfortably take the shots other people aren't comfortable taking. Some people think he is too arrogant for his own good and far too selfish to be one of the best basketball players of all time. Possibly the biggest argument against Kobe is that he is simply a Jordan copycat that could never quite live up to the Jordan legacy. I don’t agree. Kobe was a student of the game, Jordan was the best player ever. It makes perfect sense for Kobe to imitate Jordan, just like he imitated Larry Bird and Julius Erving. Kobe borrowed from all the greats, not just Jordan, because he didn’t want to be the next Jordan, he wanted to be better.

I love Kobe for that. I don’t mind that he thinks he actually was better than Jordan, I admire it. I used to rock Kobe’s number 8 jersey and stand out in my street for hours practicing reverse layups, post moves, fadeaways, pull ups, three pointers, all in an attempt to emulate Kobe. But what I was really doing was learning from all the best basketball players who have ever played, because that is what Kobe did. At the time I didn’t realize this, but looking back on my basketball career I owe so much to Kobe Bryant’s passion for the game, his work ethic on and off the court, and his drive to be the best.

For many DC Kobe fans, Wednesday night in the Verizon Center will certainly be one of his memorable moments. Kobe did what I thought I would never see again from him, he took over. He drove the ball to the basket and finished crafty layups below the rim, he hit double clutched fadeaways, pull ups with hands in his face, vintage turnaround jumpers, and timely three pointers. It was awesome to watch and he reminded me why I fell in love with his game so many years ago. But most importantly, I think he reminded the entire country why he is such a special player, because even though he had played horribly all year, he continued to put in the work, just as he has done his entire career, knowing that eventually his work ethic will prevail. Good bye Kobe Bryant, I will miss watching you play. 

Coach Max

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End of practice with Coach Max @real_maxkeenan huddling the players up to reflect on what they learned. It's always great to review with your team at the end of practice. Look at the focus Coach commands. Earning your players trust and respect as a coach is paramount. #discovertheathlete #coaching #basketball #youthbasketball #fundamentalsacademy #practicemakesperfect #huddleup #nba #youthsports (at Jelleff)

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Hold your Follow through up!!! Never let it down. They made a song to teach you the Fundamentals of Shooting.#masterthefundamentals #discovertheathlete #fundamentalsacademy #followthrough #shooting #nba #wizards #holditup (at Washington, District of Columbia)

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CONGRATULATIONS @kobebryant on a legendary career. Black Mamba, HOF. Thank you 👋🏾👋🏾👋🏾👋🏾. The focus, preparation, and killer instinct will be missed. Look forward to seeing you in DC tomorrow night. #Kobe #HOF #nba #👋🏾 #blackmamba #81 #g8

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Birthday boy going down the slip and slide during boot camp at his army themed FUNBASH. Our birthday parties are catered to the Birthday Girl or Boy. Whatever theme they want we help bring to life. #discovertheathlete #funbash #funinthesun #fundamentalsacademy #armybirthdayparty #fatigues #slipnslide flipagram credit: @amberrrrdiane (at ARMY FUN BASH)

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100+ degrees in India, but brothers Kunal and Rohan can't pass up a basketball lesson with @coachomar10 working on post moves, triple threat, and ball handling. #discovertheathlete #masterthefundamentals #fundamentalsacademy #basketball #india #global #bigmanisonly12 #watchout (at FUNDAMENTALS ACADEMY TAKES INDIA)

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One of of our athletes working on his handle after brunch. (@coachomar10's nephew) Regardless of where you are, as long as you have the will to get better you can #discovertheathlete. #fundamentalsacademy #allday #basketball #ballislife #masterthefundamentals

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Our young Athlete’s practicing their basketball skills. Repetition makes perfect.  Ball handling, passing and lay ups. Just a few of the #Fundamentals we master at the #fundamentalsacademy. Its never to early to #discovertheathlete    

Video credit: coach $dough$ @projectgeorge8

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Happy Mother's Day! Our Fundamentals Academy mothers getting in on the action. #happymothersday #discovertheathlete #fundamentalsacademy (at MOMS LOVE SPORTS TOO)