Warriors Explain Why A 'Dap' Is Much More Than A Handshake In NBA Culture (via NBCSAuthentic)
It was nearly 40 years ago, at an awards banquet in Los Angeles, and Kerr, a seventh-grader, was in the room to pick up a season-ending prize. Emceeing the event was Roy Hamilton, a black basketball legend from Watts who went on to UCLA before playing two years in the NBA.
"I went out and met Roy," Kerr recalled."And we gave the full black-guy shake. The bro [hug] into the hand lock." "Culturally, they feel like they have to do that," former Warriors big man Omari Spellman said."When it's like, 'If y'all just being yourself and ain't hurting nobody, we don't care.'" "I mean, it's the world we live in," Warriors big man Marquese Chriss said."Sometimes you have to assimilate and you have to be able to adjust who you are. I'm not saying change who you are but adjust to your audience, I think. And especially as professional athletes, I think we have to do that each and every day.
"I've had somebody tried to shake my hand and I go in for a dap, and then I turned to shake their hand and then they go to dap, and then it's awkward," Spellman said."And now we're just like reaching, trying to shake each other's hand, and it's like all right, then you just kind of keep walking." "I think we might have had three white guys on the basketball team, [which was] predominantly black," Kerr said."I was used to just being around kids who came from different places. It's a little easier to just understand cultural differences, and you just go with the flow."Despite Kerr's travels, the coach, along with his colleagues, still faces familiar conundrums when a handshake looms.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NBA Rumors: Sixers To Re-Evaluate Ben Simmons’ Back Injury In Two WeeksBen Simmons' back injury will keep the 76ers star sidelined during one of the most crucial portions of Philadelphia's season.…
Read more »
NBA roundup: Embiid injures shoulder in Sixers' lossCollin Sexton scored 28 points on Wednesday as the host Cleveland Cavaliers post...
Read more »
Eva Mendes Reveals Why She Wants to Play a Disney Villain for Her KidsExclusive: Eva Mendes reveals the type of role that would make her return to acting! 🙌
Read more »
I'm a Fashion Editor, and This Is Why I'm Over Dressing Up For Fashion WeekThere were a lot of things I didn't learn about fashion until joining the editorial world in college. During my first New York Fashion Week, I remember seeing
Read more »
Why I Ate Nothing but Soup for 54 DaysThere were days I was afraid to eat. Now I'm learning to love food again.
Read more »
Why Uber Fees Are More Expensive Depending On LocationFrom California to New York, local laws add to the cost of your Uber ride.
Read more »