Regular Hoops ??

“Playing here for 14 years” ??♂? Episode 16: Alexander Morel (Co-Founder, ANDIEM) ???? ---------- I met up with Alex at PS 47 in lower Manhattan. He’s organized a basketball run there every Sunday for the last 14 years. It started as a weekly run with friends, but has evolved into a community that sparked the idea for Andiem Here’s how ?? Week after week, many of his friends would twist their ankles during the run… And it happened to Alex at the worst time. Alex was a consultant and traveled a lot for work ?? But his severe ankle sprain made things difficult, like going to the airport & flying. From this lived experience, he realized many people stop playing basketball because they can’t afford to get hurt. So he built Andiem—which is on a mission to create an injury-free future for sports. He and his co-founder Ezra Smyser are starting with basketball because they love the sport. In fact, they met 17 years ago playing pickup basketball together in college. ---------- Alex talked more about how Dave Hopla inspired his basketball journey ?? And he emphasized how basketball is a great way to get to know people. You only need 5 minutes of gametime to understand their values. ---------- Andiem recently released its first product, The Pivot 1.0. It is a basketball shoe designed to prevent ankle injuries. Alex wants to get feedback and have as many people try it out… If you want to be one of those people, then reach out to Alex. He’ll pull up to your basketball run on a Citi Bike with a bag full of kicks ?? Do you play without fear of injury? ?? ---------- Regular Hoops ?? filmed, edited, and produced this video. To learn more about the “Do You Still Hoop?” series, check out this LinkedIn post from the host, Daniel Aboul-Hassan ?? https://lnkd.in/g5vNxuvc

“Ghana vs Nigeria game (and Jollof cook-off between 4 nations)" ???????????????? Episode 15: Battle of Jollof ???? ---------- I pulled up to the 4th annual Battle of Jollof—an event celebrating West African culture through food and basketball. If you’re not familiar with Jollof… first off, you’re missing out. But in case you don’t know, Jollof is a popular rice dish from West Africa that originated in Senegal ???? And it sparks ~friendly~ competition among countries like Nigeria & Ghana—as each claim to make the best Jollof. But Jollof is more than a plate of rice… …as eating it is associated with good times. ---------- I met up with the event's co-host Young Prince (@youngprince_) who told me more about this sibling rivalry. He explained that Battle of Jollof “feeds” into this cultural competitiveness by adding a Ghana vs Nigeria basketball game. The idea to combine food and basketball came from Arinze Emeagwali, while he was looking to raise awareness and celebrate West African culture in NYC. He tapped his friends TJ Adeshola and Abdul Abdullah, MPH to help bring the idea to life. And together, they’ve?built a passionate community through… ?? Food ?? Culture ?? Music ?? Basketball Not only does Battle of Jollof teach others about West African culture, but it also connects the global black diaspora. This connection is important because no matter who makes the better Jollof… it’s One Love, One Africa ???? (but still let me know who makes the better Jollof) cc: Yvoire S. Whittaker ---------- Regular Hoops ?? filmed, edited, and produced this video. To learn more about the “Do You Still Hoop?” series, check out this LinkedIn post from the host, Daniel Aboul-Hassan ?? https://lnkd.in/g5vNxuvc

“Subway rides to write this” ???? I recently started blogging about the BTS of Regular Hoops ?? while commuting to work… …and I just published 10 blogs in 10 weeks. People often ask how I make time to create content with a full-time job AND side hustle. Rather than share generic advice, I wanted to provide something more tangible. ---------- At the start of each blog, I share a metric called... “Subway rides to write this” ???? This metric shows that making content doesn’t need to be so difficult. You can find the time to create during everyday activities—like commuting to work. (1) My commute is 30 minutes (2) I take this commute 3 days/week = 6 times/week (there & back) (3) This gives me 3 extra hours/week I previously used this free time to listen to music. Now, I still listen to music, but I also type away in my notes app. ---------- Here's what I've written about so far: ?? Brainrot has reached the NBA… and I love it ?? Pizza, basketball, and my creative process ?? I'm basically a doomscrolling spiderman ?? Day in the Life of THE Regular Hooper ?? I let strangers crash at my apartment ?? Reality is a nightmare for dreamers ?? Level 1 vs. Level 1000 Networking ?? Airdrop is my love language ?? 2 years of being regular ??♂? I'm Here If any of these topics interest you, please read and consider subscribing to my publication, Daniel’s Due Diligence. You’ll get the inside scoop into my journey building Regular Hoops ?? Click below to read and support ?? https://lnkd.in/gBz79zvx (PS—you can hit "no thanks" if you'd like to read without subscribing). Swish, Danny

“Every single day” ?? Episode 14: Carlo Rabadam and Django ???? ---------- I met up with Carlo at Dean Playground in Brooklyn with his poodle, Django. Every morning at 7am, Carlo shoots the same 24 shots (s/o Kobe) no matter the weather conditions—rain, snow, or shine ?? I’d say he has that Mamba Mentality ?? And after getting the 24 shots up, Carlo and Django head to Prospect Park for off-leash hours. Carlo shared that he started this daily routine during the 2020 pandemic while going on dog walks. He figured why not bring a basketball with him too? As a self-proclaimed Regular Hooper, he highlights that this routine is not about breaking a sweat. Instead, it’s just about (1) seeing the ball go through the net and (2) setting the tone for the day ahead. ?It’s a form of meditation that he calls “Shooting Your Shot” And he brings that energy wherever he travels now—Hawaii, Greece, LA, etc. He emphasized the real MVP behind all of this is his wife Chantel (who may or may not enjoy his jokes) ???? At the end of the day, Carlo is a lifelong basketball player and fan. From watching the Kings & MJ to hooping late into the night with friends, basketball grew his goal-setting mentality and desire to be great. He's also proud to be Filipino ???? Today, Carlo is the Global Jordan Brand & Digital Marketing Lead at Nike. And recently worked with Jason Tatum and Zion Williamson. Although he never played in college or professionally, Carlo is really living his basketball dream… especially in NYC. But the real question is… Who’s winning the 1v1… Carlo or Django?? ???? ---------- Regular Hoops ?? filmed, edited, and produced this video. To learn more about the “Do You Still Hoop?” series, check out this LinkedIn post from the host, Daniel Aboul-Hassan ?? https://lnkd.in/g5vNxuvc

“I still get buckets” ?? Episode 13: Jarrel Harris (Co-Founder & Commissioner, Sunday Washed Club) ???? ---------- I met up with Jarrel at the "Washed Club Invitational"—an annual basketball tournament for SWC members. Jarrel shared how the community started in 2021 out of pandemic fatigue—since staying at home made him feel “washed.” So he decided to organize a weekly pickup basketball run for people looking to get back on the court. But SWC has a theme... Having worked as an NBA Writer at Sports Illustrated for 8 years, Jarrel wanted to use this community as a way to unite the sports industry ?? It’s even known as the “unofficial official media run” since a majority of SWC members work in sports media. This was well received from the start—growing from 6 to 60 hoopers in just TWO WEEKS… And it’s only continued to grow… ?? NBA players like Jalen Green, Obi Toppin & Langston Galloway have pulled up to hang at a run. And brands like PepsiCo (Gatorade), adidas, Microsoft (Xbox), Nike, Under Armour, and so many more have gotten involved. Being inside a gym is cool, but the SWC roots are outside—on the concrete—so I also hung out with Jarrel at an outdoor run on a different Sunday. Seeing the community-first mentality in both weeks stuck out the most. But don’t take my word for it, take the community’s ?? So, if you’re looking for a chill (but still competitive) basketball run to start the week, then Sunday Washed Club is the place to be. No more Sunday Scaries?? ?????? ---------- Regular Hoops ?? filmed, edited, and produced this video. To learn more about the “Do You Still Hoop?” series, check out this LinkedIn post from the host, Daniel Aboul-Hassan ?? https://lnkd.in/g5vNxuvc

“I mostly sell pizza” ?? Episode 12: Emi Guimond, Co-Owner of Public Display of Affection (PDA) ???? ---------- I met up with Emi at PDA—the restaurant she started with her brother, Rob. In addition to working in the restaurant business, Emi is a professional basketball player. She’s played in countries like Germany, Ireland, Mexico, and Honduras ?? Her basketball journey is unique because after playing professionally for a couple years after college, she took 8 years off to work in restaurants. But now she’s back—simultaneously managing life as a pro hooper and restaurateur. Emi explained the similarities between working in a restaurant and playing basketball. She emphasized teamwork and why her brother’s willingness to do the dirty work makes him her favorite teammate—in the restaurant AND on the court. And when reflecting on PDA’s mission, she shared what having people eat at the restaurant means to her ?? You can tell it’s a local gem and a go-to spot for many communities like Sunday Washed Club. After meeting at the restaurant, we headed to the Cookies Hoops Classic to follow her team in the tourney. Everything previously highlighted on the importance of relying on your teammates came to life as she and Team Hoop York City went home with the championship ?? Okay, that’s enough talking… I’m guessing you’re hungry now. What are you going to order? ?? ---------- Regular Hoops ?? filmed, edited, and produced this video. To learn more about the “Do You Still Hoop?” series, check out this LinkedIn post from the host, Daniel Aboul-Hassan ?? https://lnkd.in/g5vNxuvc

“Dunk only” ?? Episode 11: Kadour ziani, Founder of the World Dunk Association (WDA) and author of “Unlock Mobility - 7 Postures” ???? ---------- I met up with Kadour at Veniceball Legend’s Day at 7 AM (watch Episode 7 to learn about that whole day!) Even though we had just woken up, he immediately started dunking. Keep in mind he is 51 YEARS OLD and only 5’11” ?? In his prime, Kadour recorded a 56-inch vertical jump. He has dunked over 30,000 times in his 33-year professional dunking career. He walked me through his longevity tips and shared how it helps activate his body. Kadour has the “Dunk or Die” mindset, which keeps him going. He rewarded himself with breakfast after dunking and highlighted that he listens to his body by eating organic, fresh food ?? His upbringing with 11 brothers and sisters meant he was always learning from the “School of Hard Knock” But Kadour only started taking basketball seriously after watching the USA Dream Team in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. He was inspired by Jordan—and was able to exceed Jordan’s jumping ability after dunking from the free throw line AND SIMULTANEOUSLY dunking over a car ?? He’s also able to KICK THE RIM. So I asked him what his secret was, and he took me to an Asian massage parlor at the Venice Beach boardwalk that allows him to stay flexible haha ?? Reflecting on his journey, Kadour’s mission is to pay it forward and help the next generation of dunkers. But he’s also here for the regular person—like me and you ?? His book walks through 7 ancestral positions based on primal animal movements. These exercises can help anyone stay active and mobile. You can support Kadour by buying his book on Amazon below ?? https://lnkd.in/gbTte6WV ---------- Regular Hoops ?? filmed, edited, and produced this video. To date, it has over 150K views, 10K likes, 3K shares, and 200 comments (all organic) To learn more about the “Do You Still Hoop?” series, check out this LinkedIn post from the host, Daniel Aboul-Hassan ?? https://lnkd.in/g5vNxuvc

“The best kept secret in New York” ?? Episode 10: Ren Hsieh (Founder, The Dynasty League) ???? ---------- I followed Ren during the opening week of TDL Sports LLC (TDL)’s 20th season. The TDL started as an Asian-American community in 2004 and has since grown into a 64-team league that has donated over $400,000 to the schools it partners with. Ren is now focused on expanding the TDL to more cities like LA. For the 20th Anniversary, Ren designed custom jerseys for each team that represent the Four Pillars of TDL: ?? Community ?? Family ?? Legacy ?? Culture This perspective is driven by the league’s Asian-American influence, which translates to everyone in TDL. Which is why this is probably the most diverse league in NYC. Ren shared more about his basketball journey growing up and reflected on how it feels to have reached the 20-year milestone. Cheers to 20 more ?? Would you play in the league?… the secret is out!! ---------- Regular Hoops ?? filmed, edited, and produced this video. To learn more about this “Do You Still Hoop?” episode, check out this LinkedIn post from the host, Daniel Aboul-Hassan ?? https://lnkd.in/gMyx3YAu

Do You Still Hoop? x Veniceball ???? First multi-video partnership for the Do You Still Hoop? series ? ---------- Last month, I flew to Los Angeles for Legends Day—the finale of the Venice Basketball League (VBL) ?? Beyond the championship game, this day’s purpose is to honor VBL legends of the (1) past, (2) present, and (3) future. But there’s an issue… Not many people know each legend’s basketball story. ---------- So, Veniceball and Regular Hoops ?? partnered on THREE Do You Still Hoop? episodes. These videos featured... ?? Nick Ansom (Founder of Veniceball) Watch: https://lnkd.in/g4RjXWQK? ?? J.C. “Mouthpiece” Thompson (the “Voice of Venice Beach”) Watch: https://lnkd.in/gCpGdMkv ?? Aaron “Showtime” Taylor (spent 26 years in prison, now announcing for Veniceball & Golden State Warriors) Watch: https://lnkd.in/g_Ukuwwf? ---------- My mission is to make regular people feel more included in basketball culture. To date, Regular Hoops ?? has 110K+ Followers with 100M+ views, partnerships with brands including the National Basketball Association (NBA), and collaborations with athletes/celebrities such as Zendaya, Victor Oladipo, and Julius Randle. If you’re a brand/athlete (1) hosting an event, (2) launching a product, and/or (3) looking to engage the basketball community, let’s get buckets together! Email: [email protected]

“I called basketball in prison ” ?? Episode 9: Aaron “Showtime” Taylor ???? ---------- I followed Aaron during the Venice Women’s League (VWL) Championship Game. He shared his journey to announcing for Veniceball and the Golden State Warriors. While in prison (serving 50 years to life), Aaron mastered play-by-play announcing—getting on the prison yard mic all the time. His style is inspired by legendary announcer Francis “Chick” Hearn. But the crazy part is he only started because he twisted his ankle from playing basketball ?? Aaron was granted parole after 26 years, and he emphasized how having hope and dreaming big inspired him to keep going. He also highlighted how the Veniceball community has embraced him since his first day out. Do you think he’ll announce an NBA Finals game one day? ---------- Regular Hoops ?? filmed, edited, and produced this video. To learn more about the Do You Still Hoop? x Veniceball partnership, check out this LinkedIn post from the host, Daniel Aboul-Hassan ?? https://lnkd.in/gMmbnR48