Nothin' But Nets
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Beyond the Bylines: Getting to Know the Nothin’ But Nets Team

By Sandy Mui

Nov 18, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin (7) is seen on the floor during player introductions prior to action against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin (7) is seen on the floor during player introductions prior to action against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tyler Dencker

Favorite NBA team: Boston Celtics (sorry everyone)

Favorite NBA player(s): Ray Allen or Stephen Curry. I really can’t choose. To this day, I have a Ray Allen full-sized fathead and signed basketball in my room. But in the past few years, Curry has stolen my heart. If you couldn’t tell, there’s nothing I appreciate more than a great shooter.

Player(s) you want to meet: I feel like I have to say Curry based on how big a fan I am of his. Otherwise, I would love to meet either LeBron (so much respect for him, we will never see a player like him again), Allen Iverson (third favorite player of all-time, loved his personality and straight-up attitude), or Kobe (because he’s Kobe. Any other explanation necessary?).

How did you become interested in NBA basketball?

It’s a funny story actually.

As a young kid, I didn’t pay as much attention to basketball as I did football and baseball. However, when I was about nine, I became increasingly interested in Ray Allen. At the time, he was dominating the game in a way that I related to and appreciated. Then that next year, he was traded to the Boston Celtics, so I decided to become a Celtics fan to follow him.

Obviously, the Celtics were pretty good that season, as they ended up winning it all. As the season went on, I got pretty into it. I’ll never forget being an eleven-year-old kid and begging my parents to stay up late to watch all the playoff games. The roller-coaster of adrenaline I got while watching was too much to ever stop, and my passion for the game grew from there. Now, I’m as into basketball as I am into any sport, and I’m awkwardly a Celtics fan living in New Jersey.

If you’re pursuing sports journalism as a career, when did you realize this was what you wanted to do? If not, what is your career goal, and what drives you to cover sports?

To be honest, I’m not sure what I want to do as a career. I was the sports editor for my high school newspaper, and I wrote in a personal sports blog before writing for Nothin’ But Nets, so I’ve always enjoyed doing sports journalism.

What I do know, however, is that I want to work in the world of sports one way or another. I feel my passion for sports is unmatched by anyone or anything. I could seriously talk or debate about sports forever. If you don’t believe me, check my Twitter. People probably love or hate me for that, but I embrace it.

What is your favorite piece you’ve written for NBN? If you haven’t been here long enough, what is your favorite piece you’ve written for any publication?

Tough question. Each article has its own uniqueness that makes it fun to write. If I had to pick one though, I’d say it was ranking the top 10 players in the NBA. Typically, I’m reading about rankings, and this was the first time I was responsible for creating one. That piece was something I put a lot of research and work into, and I was really proud of the finished product.