Links: NBA Friday
Fri-Day! Yes!
I’m gonna keep this quick today, because this is my sixth column this week and it’s Friday and I really just want to go home and root for Davidson to win tonight. (No reason, I just like cheering for underdogs.) I just wanted to post something quick to let Joel get his NBA Friday on…
A few things, though…
• Linkstigator Marjan ran into T-Wolves GM Kevin McHale at a game in Croatia yesterday and interviewed him on camera. McHale looks thrilled. And whatever you do, don’t ask McHale to name four good college teams!
• Ouch! That’s my favorite link of the day.
• Good thing Russ doesn’t travel that much.
• And finally, NBA Friday, our weekly visit with the official illustrator of The Links, Joel Kimmel. This week’s team is the Washington Wizards, and this week’s subject is Caron Butler (the image is at the bottom of The Links).
“I was originally thinking of painting something referring to his nickname, Tuff Juice,” says Joel, “since I thought I could do some interesting things with that. In researching Caron I came across a great article about Caron in the Washington Post called The Great Escape by Michael Lee. One part of the story I thought would work well in an illustration was a part about Butler while he was serving jail time as a teenager where he had to serve time in solitary confinement. He said his grandmother would send him Bible verses, one being Corinthians 13:11, that really struck him. (”When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”) When he got out of jail he turned his life around and basketball was his salvation. Because of these details I decided to paint this piece with an old medieval religious painting influence.”
Thanks Joel, and as always, great work.
Next week’s team is the Toronto Raptors, so you Raptors fans with suggestions, leave us a comment below. Aight?
Have a great weekend, everyone, and we’ll see you next week.
59 Responses to “Links: NBA Friday”
Mar.28 at 4:13 pm
Konate says:
is that a illustration of Flo Rida?… Dope though
Mar.28 at 4:14 pm
Gumdrop says:
How about Joey Graham getting called for a charge?
Mar.28 at 4:15 pm
JAMS says:
TJ Ford in the foreground, looking grumpy and Calderon in the backround on the bench with a care free look on his face.
Mar.28 at 4:16 pm
JAMS says:
or Calderon in the locker room passing out dimes…..of gatorade. look it up if you don’t know.
Mar.28 at 4:17 pm
Khalid Salaam says:
LOL konate LOL
Mar.28 at 4:18 pm
Myles Brown says:
This is one of my fav 5.
Mar.28 at 4:23 pm
BETCATS says:
2nd konate
Mar.28 at 4:33 pm
Mike says:
Looks really good!! Keep up the great work. I really look for ward to seeing your work every Friday!
Mar.28 at 4:37 pm
Cougar says:
This is so ridiculous! Lovin’ Butler - Kimmel, your work is amazing - can’t wait to see next week’s!
Mar.28 at 4:41 pm
chiqo says:
how about moon’s foot about five feet in front of the piece of tape he places a foot behind the free throw line as he takes off for a dunk? or bosh in a cowboy hat, wad of cash in hand pimping used cars.
Mar.28 at 4:43 pm
JAMS says:
i also like that one…ahaha chiqo
Mar.28 at 4:58 pm
TADOne says:
DUCK!!!!
Mar.28 at 4:58 pm
FLUXLAND says:
SLAM is anti-Raptors..don’t do anything with the Raptors. DO PHILLY! They deserve it….
Mar.28 at 4:59 pm
TADOne says:
Great pic again Joel.
Mar.28 at 5:12 pm
WhaHuh says:
best concept so far
Mar.28 at 5:19 pm
Unreasonable Action says:
Who do talk we to about getting Kimmel’s work above minted onto a coin? Here in Canada we have been working our way through a series of quarters celebrating the upcoming Winter Olympics. More people follow basketball in the States than there are people in Canada. You guys deserve a hoops series, and Joel can start it off! (I just saw Alaska’s 2008 state quarter and it is also awesome.) Great work as always, Joel. SLAM, when are you going to have him paint you the definitive basketball home page?
Mar.28 at 5:27 pm
kai says:
really nice job - very original piece. More of this refreshing new style of illustration is welcome, and needed.
Mar.28 at 5:55 pm
what says:
Rudy Gay dunking on Andrea Bargnani
Mar.28 at 6:12 pm
Paps says:
check out the bosh i did
Mar.28 at 6:27 pm
ping ping says:
do it of Brian Colangelo
Mar.28 at 6:32 pm
yusuf says:
do calderon holding up the 3s with his fingers…u guys know what i mean right? http://www.nba.com/media/act_jose_calderon.jpg
Mar.28 at 6:38 pm
G Diesel says:
I’d like to see T.J Ford sitting on Jose Calderon’s lap
Mar.28 at 6:55 pm
BMan says:
Great piece, yet again
Mar.28 at 7:14 pm
twills says:
the friday links are becoming one of my most anticipated columns. good stuff, joel.
Mar.28 at 7:17 pm
dma says:
i think you’re going to have to put the picture of the UN or something of that sort since the Raps have so many int’l players. or Candice Parker.
Mar.28 at 7:18 pm
dma says:
G diesel - no homo?
Mar.28 at 7:32 pm
AK47 says:
Great stuff again Joel. Love the basketball halo. Can’t wait to see what you do with T’rono.
Mar.28 at 7:36 pm
Gerard Himself says:
Moon!
Mar.28 at 7:50 pm
boobie_gibson says:
You should do Oliver Miller, when he played for the Raps, or maybe Jorge Garbajosa.
Mar.28 at 8:44 pm
J.E. Skeets says:
Joel: “Primoz Brezec, gangtsa.” Thanks in advance.
Mar.28 at 9:13 pm
d-Mac says:
These have all been awesome joel. Can’t wait to see what you come up with for the Raps. It’s gotta be Bosh, maybe in the shadows of Bron Bron, D-Wade and Melo (shown in silhouettes), but stepping out into the light… That or the used car salesman. Keep up the great work, it’s the reason I check out this site every Friday.
Mar.28 at 10:23 pm
TC says:
nice stuff, u gotta do CB4 next week.
Mar.29 at 12:06 am
Captain America says:
D.A.V.I.D.S.O.N!
Mar.29 at 12:09 am
Scott says:
I agree with yusef, you have to do Jose with the 3s!
Mar.29 at 4:39 am
hursty says:
whats the writing say around the middle of the picture in the circular script? nice otherwise joel, we all appreciate what you do
Mar.29 at 4:42 am
karan says:
its gotta be bosh
and by the way, i dissaprove of the uncreative CB4 nickname
bosh should be called The Boshasaurus
its obvious
he’s big, he plays for the raptors, and his neck sticks out like a dino
Mar.29 at 5:45 am
Jordan says:
Awesome…as all of these illustrations have been, I hope they’re paying you good money for this! Cant wait to see what Raptor shows up next week!
Mar.29 at 10:01 am
arthur says:
Hursty, I’m pretty sure it’s the bible verse Joel referred to in the article. I think it might be my favourite so far.
Mar.29 at 10:37 am
RT says:
Looking good Joel. That basketball halo is subtle but interesting. Maybe we’ll get to see some Moon next week.
Mar.29 at 11:51 am
k.o. says:
@Paps - nice illustrations man. @Karan - i concur. doesn’t Bosh resemble little foot from “the land before time” cartoon?? @Joel - i vote Mighty Mouse, the Big O, or Zan Tabak. And Bosh if ur going with current raptors of course.
Mar.29 at 1:09 pm
deuce21 says:
Yeah! http://www.tmz.com/2008/03/29/former-baketballer-pro-arrested-for-travelling/
Mar.29 at 1:36 pm
Benny The Jet Rodriguez says:
Do Steph Curry.
Mar.29 at 2:07 pm
Joel Kimmel says:
Thanks for all the great compliments and suggestions!
@Hursty: The words are from the Bible verse in the article.
Mar.29 at 4:55 pm
Danny Ferry says:
LINTON JOHNSON THE 3RD Since March is the month of the underdog(Bonjour Davidson), might as well give someone else under the radar some burn.
Mar.29 at 6:06 pm
OldSchoolBaller says:
Joel - This stuff is intense! I checked out your site too. Solid. I like this NBA Fridays idea, keep it coming.
For next week, what if you did all the former people that have gone through Toronto and didn’t want to be there (Damon, Vince) behind CB who actually wants to be in TO.
Mar.29 at 6:16 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
Maybe you could do Chris Bosh being baited into taking jump shots, or Sam mitchell body slamming Rafer Alston into the trainers table.
Question: At what point do Jamario Moon jumpshots start getting marked down as turnovers?
Hi Mom.
Mar.30 at 2:23 am
Phila says:
ill
Mar.30 at 3:13 am
floe says:
i think calderon deserve’s a cover for setting precedence
Mar.30 at 4:18 am
niQ says:
JAMARIO MOON!
Mar.30 at 11:49 am
Ryan says:
I just found this site and I’ve looked back at all s guys art and I’ve read alot of other articles on here. This artist shows his love of the game into each piece while other ‘fans’ just talk trash. This is why we love the game! Joel Kimmel IS basketball. I would like to see some paintings of the greatest players ever, back when basketball meant more than phat rides and paychecks.
Mar.30 at 12:29 pm
Roby says:
I’m loving the illustrations Joel, you got some serious skills. Keep ‘em comin’!
Mar.30 at 8:10 pm
matt the jazz fan says:
anthony parker in the shadow of his sister
Mar.30 at 8:10 pm
matt the jazz fan says:
ps this is my favourite illustration so far
Mar.30 at 8:20 pm
Flipside Homeboy says:
Awesome work Joel! Everyweek you keep bringing quality paintings! They should hire you for their mag.
Mar.30 at 8:31 pm
Philly B says:
I love your paintings! Can’t wait for next weeks, cause I know it’s gonna be sick! SLAM: Keep him for your mag!
Mar.31 at 12:10 pm
shakey handle says:
i’d love to see some former raptor legends… popeye jones or jerome williams for example.
maybe zan tabak coming out of the shadows
Mar.31 at 6:48 pm
WeS says:
Either Ford/Calderon or some sort of “vote for Bosh” joint.
Mar.31 at 10:45 pm
Amanda says:
Joel, once again your artwork is amazing!!!
Apr.1 at 1:49 pm
kevbo says:
vince carter, walking down the court, whispering to seattle sonics players about plays.
oh, wait….