Few players represent New York City basketball quite like Chris Mullin, whose rise from city playgrounds to the Hall of Fame is a story of grit, hard work, and talent. Mullin shared that journey with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson in the most recent episode of All The Smoke.
Growing up in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, Mullin traveled to Harlem and the Bronx to face the most talented basketball players. Mullin told the guys that the journey was everything. Mullin grew up in a blue-collar, middle-class household, with both parents present, and he was the middle of five children. Mullin’s first role model was his older brother, a great baseball and basketball player. It was convenient for Mullin to work on his game in his youth. He expressed that the gym was right up the block, which was a two-minute walk for him. Further, Mullin expressed that he fell in love with basketball because it was a sport that he felt he could go out there by himself and get better at.
Mullin followed his older brother to attend the renowned basketball powerhouse Power Memorial in Manhattan, where he was exposed to another level of hoops. Power Memorial produced legends such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Len Elmore. It was at Power Memorial that Mullin could play with players from Harlem, like three-time NBA champion Mario Elie. In addition, he also became aware of the legendary AAU program at Riverside Church because those players played at Power Memorial, so they started bringing Mullin to play with them uptown. Playing against guys from Harlem and The Bronx was an eye-opener for Mullin and a big motivator to challenge himself. Sure, he was the best in his neighborhood, but playing in those areas exposed him to different playing styles. He always felt like he was a strong fundamental player who was coached well, but playing in different neighborhoods unveiled to him more of the NBA style of game, which was more fast-paced and up and down. He learned to be aggressive — taking the first shot and creating off the dribble. Moreover, the most important thing he learned from playing in the park is that every single day, you must prove yourself. What you did the day before did not matter, and you had to show out, or guys would boo you and tell you to get the hell out of here, explained Mullin. That motivation to prove himself helped him establish his focus. It did not matter if you were in the gym alone, in a packed arena like Madison Square Garden, or playing one-on-one; the standard remains the same.
Basketball and his upbringing in New York City also exposed Mullin to a broader view of the world. Although he came home to two parents, and his mom cooked dinner every night, some teammates he played with at Power Memorial did not have the same experience. Instead, They were coming home from school with no parents present in the projects and no food. It made Mullin more grateful for his parents and living situation, making him want to bring that teammate around his family. To Mullin’s point, when you are used to living in a close-knit community, you think everyone has the same lifestyle as you. Mullin stressed that he received daily education from his commute to Power Memorial. Mullin had to take two trains and a bus to get to Power. He would get on the 3 train on Flatbush Avenue and transfer to 42nd Street to catch the 1 train to 61st Street.
As a 14-year-old kid taking that commute every day, he would be on the train with people who worked on Wall Street, and then the second part of his commute, when he would get closer to uptown, he would experience a different demographic of people. His commute and the various people he came across gave him not only street smarts and self-awareness but also a deeper understanding of the lives of others. Mullin contends that that was an invaluable education in itself. He may not have realized it when he was going through it, but when he looks back, he has a deeper appreciation for that experience and credits his parents for pushing him and his siblings to get out and explore the world.
Watch or listen to the full episode below and keep an eye on DraftKings Network for new episodes of All The Smoke every Thursday at 6 p.m. ET!
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Chris Mullin’s Journey from Rehab to Hall of Fame, Untold Dream Team Story & That Infamous Practice
VIDEO:
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