Naismith International Park

December 20, 2020 9:27 AM

ESPN NBA Analyst Kirk Goldsberry (previously on MetaFilter) has created a wonderful topographic map of an NBA court (direct image link) that highlights some of the most iconic figures and moments in basketball history.

Guided tours embark every half hour from John Wooden Station, offering scenic views of dozens of must-see Perimeter Road attractions, including Stepback Crossing, Rice Glen, Kyrie's Dagger, Draymond's Green, and Pat Summitt. From there, follow The Zags Trail past Stockton Lake, Iverson Crossing, and Garnett's Meadow to Charity Stripe, home of Mamba's Sunspot, Paul's Elbow, and the Duncan Reservoir. If you're up to the challenge of scaling Peach Basket Mountain, you'll be rewarded with breathtaking views of King's Landing, Diana's Points, and Chamberlain Peak, but please be careful in the icy conditions of Gervin Trail, and note that access to Dikembe Point is blocked until further notice.

posted by tonycpsu (17 comments total)

My favorite is the O’Neal Shack.
posted by mundo at 10:02 AM on December 20, 2020 [2 favorites]

The Round Mound of Rebound is designated as a dining area.
posted by pracowity at 10:27 AM on December 20, 2020 [5 favorites]

This is incredibly well-done, but if I'm gonna get really nit-picky, it should be "Shuttlesworth Wilderness".

But as a MFFL, that he included an "Old Nowitzki Monument" on "One-Legged Fadeaway Trail" wedged between "Cuban Point" and "Kidd Pass", any typos can be forgiven.
posted by Ufez Jones at 11:29 AM on December 20, 2020 [1 favorite]

the Rick Barry Underpass is absolute genius.
posted by Old Kentucky Shark at 11:37 AM on December 20, 2020 [4 favorites]

Out on "That's a bad shot plateau", the "Dametime Historical Marker" is next to "Playoff P's gravesite 2019". Seems legit.
posted by maupuia at 11:58 AM on December 20, 2020 [1 favorite]

Mullins Flattop is excellent as well.
posted by NoMich at 12:01 PM on December 20, 2020

Just saw "Bryon Russell's Gravesite" and said "Daaaaaaamn" out loud to nobody but my dog.
posted by Ufez Jones at 12:04 PM on December 20, 2020 [3 favorites]

Craig Eho's gravesite is notable. I looked for and found Ray Allen Historical Marker. Nice. "The Doctor's Approach" has to be the best thing on here. I thought about buying it, but 18x24 (shoulda been 47x50) isn't big enough for fifty bucks.
posted by cashman at 12:47 PM on December 20, 2020 [1 favorite]

The two gravesites (Ehlo and Russell) made me chortle. There’s a solid meeting here of deep basketball knowledge and truly masterful puncraft, and it’s beautiful to see.

If you need me, I’ll be hiking around Bad Boys Bend. It’s been years since I’ve seen the majesty of Laimbeer’s Elbows.
posted by Ghidorah at 4:33 PM on December 20, 2020 [3 favorites]

I recommend the campsites at Cameron Indoor, they have nice views of Grant Hill and Hurley Point.

This is really cool.
posted by mbd1mbd1 at 5:37 PM on December 20, 2020

I like this. Logo Point on Jerry's Western Trail!

I AM NOT SURE HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS, HOWEVER (same artist)
posted by rhizome at 7:10 PM on December 20, 2020 [2 favorites]

Ok, but, "A.I. Crossing", leads to "Lue Falls" and then, a bit further along, "Lue's Gravesite".
posted by maupuia at 8:15 PM on December 20, 2020 [3 favorites]

Ok, but, "A.I. Crossing", leads to "Lue Falls" and then, a bit further along, "Lue's Gravesite".

Gotta add the link for that one. (Maybe everyone's seen it, but the mention made me want to see it again.)
posted by gusottertrout at 10:54 PM on December 20, 2020 [2 favorites]

I love that video, gusottertrout, but every time I think of Iverson these days, I wonder how he'd do in the modern era. Like, everything now is about optimal shots, three pointers and layups, avoid the midrange at all costs, but the midrange is where Iverson made everything happen. That, and he was a chucker with arguably terrible shooting percentages, and not much of a real threat from 3. He was, by modern light, a terribly inefficient player, but god, I loved the guy.
posted by Ghidorah at 12:30 AM on December 21, 2020 [2 favorites]

Yeah, I'm with you. I was a big Iverson fan back in the day, and he did really change the game in some ways, but the game kept on changing after he was done, so I'm not sure how well he'd fit into the modern NBA. I mean I'm sure he'd find some way since he had the talent, but it probably wouldn't be nearly as much fun to watch.
posted by gusottertrout at 12:54 AM on December 21, 2020

Watch Ja Morant and find out.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 7:09 AM on December 21, 2020 [1 favorite]

Allen Iverson is my favorite player of all time, but I do wonder if some visitors might be confused by the existence of both "Iverson Crossing" and "A.I. Crossing" in different spots in the park. However, it is important to memorialize both his crossover on MJ and step-over of Tyronn Lue, so I would suggest renaming the Lue spot "The Answer Overpass".

Meanwhile, the elevation of Chamberlain Peak seems off to me. Depending on what category is being memorialized, 31,419' or 20,000' (est.) seem like more reasonable numbers there.
posted by tonycpsu at 5:11 PM on December 21, 2020 [1 favorite]