One of the more recent appearances came when DeRozan and James showed up in LA to play in the Drew League. James also made an appearance on TheCrawsOver, Jamal Crawford’s pro-am league in Seattle.
DeRozan, a regular in the Drew League, commented on the competitive nature of the games in these leagues. During an apperance on JJ Redick’s “The Old Man and the Three,” podcast, he said:
He added:
Pro-Am leagues have long served as worthwhile second-fiddle to the NBA
Drew League was officially established in 1973. A significant portion of it and its contemporaries’ relevance in recent times is owed to players from the NBA participating in games in the summer.
Pro-Am leagues like TheCrawsOver, Goodman League, Drew League, Danny Rumph Classic and Miami Pro League often have their summers graced by NBA players.
In 2011, when the NBA and the NBPA were at loggerheads in a notable labor tussle, the league went into a lockout. Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and Chris Paul went to Morgan State University in Baltimore to play in an exhibition game. It also boasted several players from the Goodman League.
Kobe Bryant, James Harden, Paul Pierce, John Wall, Julius Randle, JaVale McGee and Nick Young have also played in the Drew League.
These leagues have given people from cities without a professional team a chance to watch high-profile players live. LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, Dejounte Murray, Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren made appearances at TheCrawsOver this year.
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