Baron Davis

I didn't know LA. I only knew... my neighborhood going to church it was only where we went my neighborhood on sundays we go to church it was there was no activities until basketball came and i like then i finally got a chance to play football in englewood so it was like okay my house englewood now i know people in englewood and so it was very um gated growing up la was gated like you i

I didn't know LA. I only knew... my neighborhood going to church it was only where we went my neighborhood on sundays we go to church it was there was no activities until basketball came and i like then i finally got a chance to play football in englewood so it was like okay my house englewood now i know people in englewood and so it was very um gated growing up la was gated like you i

And you're outside the gates. You're not allowed in the gates. We're in the epicenter of like, we're inside the gate. You know what I mean? It's like if there was a wall when I was growing up that could have been built so people wouldn't have to see a certain part of L.A. They would have built that shit in South Central. You know what I mean? And that's what it was.

And you're outside the gates. You're not allowed in the gates. We're in the epicenter of like, we're inside the gate. You know what I mean? It's like if there was a wall when I was growing up that could have been built so people wouldn't have to see a certain part of L.A. They would have built that shit in South Central. You know what I mean? And that's what it was.

I always say it's invisible walls because, you know, here I am on Manchester and San Pedro. You got Maine, you got Broadway, those two different gangs. San Pedro's different, Avalon, next street different. So you like, you know, city blocks, that's like those belong to someone else. So there's no walking to McDonald's even though it's four blocks away. There's no walking to the grocery store.

I always say it's invisible walls because, you know, here I am on Manchester and San Pedro. You got Maine, you got Broadway, those two different gangs. San Pedro's different, Avalon, next street different. So you like, you know, city blocks, that's like those belong to someone else. So there's no walking to McDonald's even though it's four blocks away. There's no walking to the grocery store.

I mean, you can, but everything is like a chance. It's like you're literally taking a chance. It's not the way kids should be living. It's not the way kids should be thinking. No, not at all. I always say, can you imagine if I could walk From Manchester and San Pedro to the beach. It's not that far or ride a bike, it ain't happening. I can't even go to the bus stop.

I mean, you can, but everything is like a chance. It's like you're literally taking a chance. It's not the way kids should be living. It's not the way kids should be thinking. No, not at all. I always say, can you imagine if I could walk From Manchester and San Pedro to the beach. It's not that far or ride a bike, it ain't happening. I can't even go to the bus stop.

And so that's how I got to Crossroads because my grandmother was just like, she needed me to go somewhere else. Well, Crossroads is a private school in Santa Monica, right? Crossroads is a private school in Santa Monica. My AAU basketball coach worked for K-Swiss. He was the marketing director at K-Swiss. They sponsored like four high school teams and Tony Smith.

And so that's how I got to Crossroads because my grandmother was just like, she needed me to go somewhere else. Well, Crossroads is a private school in Santa Monica, right? Crossroads is a private school in Santa Monica. My AAU basketball coach worked for K-Swiss. He was the marketing director at K-Swiss. They sponsored like four high school teams and Tony Smith.

Remember Tony Smith played for the Lakers. And Crossroads was one of the teams. There was a point guard at Crossroads named Trayvon Dugar. He was like 5'5", 5'6". And my AAU coach was like, damn, that could be Barron. He's not gonna grow past 5'5". He would be good around, he could actually assimilate to white people. You know what I mean?

Remember Tony Smith played for the Lakers. And Crossroads was one of the teams. There was a point guard at Crossroads named Trayvon Dugar. He was like 5'5", 5'6". And my AAU coach was like, damn, that could be Barron. He's not gonna grow past 5'5". He would be good around, he could actually assimilate to white people. You know what I mean?

Because you gotta think, only white people we know is the people we play against in AAU basketball. And so the high school coach was from my neighborhood. And my grandmother wanted me to go somewhere where I got out the neighborhood because one of my friends got killed on the bus stop. at like seven, eight o'clock in the morning going to school.

Because you gotta think, only white people we know is the people we play against in AAU basketball. And so the high school coach was from my neighborhood. And my grandmother wanted me to go somewhere where I got out the neighborhood because one of my friends got killed on the bus stop. at like seven, eight o'clock in the morning going to school.

And so that was the bus, that's like the bus stop I have to take. You know what I mean? Like I can't walk to the next bus stop.

And so that was the bus, that's like the bus stop I have to take. You know what I mean? Like I can't walk to the next bus stop.

That was it. She was like, man, if he can't walk around the corner, go sit on the bus stop, and that's the most dangerous part of the day. The bus stop is the most dangerous part of the day when you're going from elementary to middle school.

That was it. She was like, man, if he can't walk around the corner, go sit on the bus stop, and that's the most dangerous part of the day. The bus stop is the most dangerous part of the day when you're going from elementary to middle school.

No, she don't drive. She don't drive. My grandfather drove. And so when I went to Crossroads, my grandfather would drive me from Manchester and San Pedro to Manchester and Crenshaw, which is like a bus ride, so I wouldn't have to be on the bus. My AAU coach would pick me up and take me to Crossroads, then drive all the way to Burbank. all the way back around the city.

No, she don't drive. She don't drive. My grandfather drove. And so when I went to Crossroads, my grandfather would drive me from Manchester and San Pedro to Manchester and Crenshaw, which is like a bus ride, so I wouldn't have to be on the bus. My AAU coach would pick me up and take me to Crossroads, then drive all the way to Burbank. all the way back around the city.