Millennial bball fans may know “the Shammgod” as the bait-and-switch crossover made NBA famous by Manu Ginolbli and later Chris Paul. Hoop heads born before the 90s are more connected to the move’s originator: God Shammgod—the NYC point guard known nationwide for having the lowest handle ever witnessed. As an All-American at LaSalle Academy, he dominated competition under the name Shammgod Wells (his mother’s last name), during a time when high school basketball in the Big Apple was at rock star status. Lincoln’s Stephon Marbury was King, but Shammgod was the people’s champ.
After two years starting for Providence, concluding with an epic performance in the ’97 NCAA Tournament, Shammgod left early for the NBA. Buried on the Wizards bench behind his mentor Rod Strickland, Sham would eventually take his talents overseas. Today many hoops purists (especially from NY) wonder whatever happened to the PG wiz they nicknamed “Black Magic.” The upcoming mini documentary, The Ascension of God, answers that question and much more about a true NYC legend.
