SLAM PRESENTS: WORLD HOOPS 2010

I got my copy of SLAM PRESENTS WORLD HOOPS 2010 magazine today. It came just in time before the start of the FIBA World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey this coming Saturday. The magazine contains a team-by-team preview of  all participating countries in the quadrennial event together with special features on cover boy Kevin Durant of TeamUSA,  the World Basketball Fest in New York, Yi Jianlian of China, Carlos Arroyo of Puerto Rico, Michael Jordan, the original USA dream team of 1960 and a lot more. Over-all, it serves a complete guide for the FIBA tourney. Matt Lawyue of SLAM Magazine sums it all.

“Six months later, the World Hoops 2010 issue is here with Kevin Durant gracing the cover (on newsstands this coming week in New York City). Throughout the season and Playoffs, the gold medal winning “Redeem Team” had wavered about reppin’ USA for the World’s. One man who didn’t was the increasingly popular Durant. The Thunder superstar, who was cut from that ‘08 team as a 19-year-old rookie, had as great a shot as anyone to make Jerry Colangelo’s and Coach K’s squad. He was coming off a fantastic season, averaging 30.1 ppg while pushing the Lakers to a six-game first round series.

“Besides the Durant cover story, which Norman MacLean, I mean Lang, obviously kills, I try my hand at my first multiple-page feature about Yi Jianlian and his varying degrees of success with Team China and the NBA. I also penned the four group, 24 team preview for the World’s. It includes some history, what to expect and who to look for in Turkey. There are also stories on Carlos Arroyo, Team USA history (an Old School by Michael Bradley at that), and in-depth coverage of the upcoming World Basketball Festival in New York City about two weeks from now. And of course, there are spreads of the new Nike Hyper Elite Uniforms; fresh Nike, Converse and Jordan kicks for 2010; and a lot more apparel reflective of the impending World’s. Everything you will need to know in preparation for the World Basketball Festival and World Basketball Championship is in the pages of this issue. Enjoy.”