Jon Greenberg, who founded the pro-am in 1979, is able to easily recall games and moments that happened years ago, such as Stephen Curry’s 43-point surprise.
SAN FRANCISCO — High schooler Raymond Whitley had dreamed of this moment, playing on the hallowed Kezar Pavilion basketball court in the San Francisco Pro-Am, facing current overseas professionals, college players and an assortment of grown men and former stars.
“Oh yeah, I grew up coming to these games,” Whitley said while flashing a smile after a recent win for the Dream Team.
The rising senior point guard at St. Ignatius has, of course, heard the stories of the storied games and legendary players that predate him.
Like in 1995, when Jason Kidd, Brian Shaw and Gary Payton — at the peak of their NBA powers — won the Pro-Am crown for Bay Pride.
Or in July 2014, when Stephen Curry meandered into the pavilion for a one-game showcase.
Jon Greenberg, who founded the pro-am in 1979, is able to easily recall games and moments that happened years ago, and counts Curry’s 43-point surprise as one of his favorite memories.
“We were only half-filled, but the cellphones went out, and by halftime, we were completely packed,” Greenberg recalled. “The message got out, and oh my God, he had a heck of a game.”
But long gone are the days when seeing professional stars such as Gilbert Arenas, Kurt Rambis, Tim Hardaway, Kevin Johnson, Aaron Gordon and even Curry were commonplace.
Former Warrior and now New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Poole was listed on one team’s roster, but did not play in this year’s pro-am. The last Warrior to participate is believed to be Juan Toscano-Anderson, the Castro Valley star who played for the hometown team for three seasons.
These days, the NBA’s elite no longer come around to the gymnasium, with Greenberg noting that pro teams do not want their multi-million-dollar athletes to risk injury.
The pavilion itself has also seen much better days.
Though packed with history and memories, the paint on the court has now eroded, at least half of the lights are faded or burnt out, hardly illuminating the scattered crowd.
The amenities, bathrooms, locker rooms and general layout are also in desperate need of modernization.
But though there was talk of closing Kezar after this season to undergo a multiyear $130 million renovation that would bring the arena into the 21st century, Greenberg wants to pump the brakes on that.
“Not so fast on that, because they’re trying to find the money,” Greenberg said. “Right now, the city is in pretty bad shape financially, so I’m not sure that money will become available.”
But while the arena itself is a bit dingy, and the high-level pros no longer come by, the hoops are still high-caliber.
St. Mary’s College stars Mikey Lewis, Andrew McKeever and Luke Barrett are headlining the Bay Raiders team that has reached the final, which will be played this week.
Kellen Hampton and Jalen Stokes, both members of the most recent all-Bay Area News Group high school basketball team alongside Whitley, have sharpened their skills in the pro-am before heading off to college basketball.
Former Warrior Billy Reid now coaches in the league, and told the Bay Area News Group that it helped him get his professional career back on track in the 1980s.
The games are still free, so anyone can walk in and watch quality basketball.
And for Greenberg, that is more than enough.
“It has provided an opportunity for players to hone their skills during the summer, and given the fans a chance to renew old acquaintances,” Greenberg said. “I think it has served the Bay Area well.”
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