To produce the new documentary on outdoor basketball, “Doin’ It in the Park: Pick-Up Basketball, NYC,” co-directors Bobbito Garcia, a pioneering hip-hop DJ and outdoor-basketball expert, and Kevin Couliau, a French cinematographer, visited 180 outdoor courts in 75 days, filming, interviewing and even playing against the local talent. The movie traces the city’s storied history of playground hoops, which shaped the style and pace of the modern NBA game. The doc opens Wednesday and is also available to view at doinitinthepark.com. This is their roundball New York.
1. Monsignor Kett Playground, a k a Dyckman Park, West 204th Street at Nagle Avenue
Garcia: “Kareem Abdul-Jabbar [then known as Lew Alcindor] was born and raised in the Dyckman Projects. The first time he played organized basketball was at Dyckman court. He and Earl Manigault used to go from court to court around the city: Mount Morris, 113th Street and Morningside, 167th Street and Edgecombe Avenue. Traveling was required to gain a reputation throughout the city. You’re not going to get better if you stay in your local park against the same competition.”
2. Happy Warrior Park, a k a “The Goat,” Amsterdam Avenue at 99th Street
The courts were named for Earl “The Goat” Manigault, a pick-up legend of the ’60s and ’70s who often played here. Hip-hop fans refer to Happy Warrior as “Rock Steady Park,” because the famous 1980s breakdancing crew hung out here. Dancing on cardboard supposedly originated here when members of the crew would take empty boxes from a nearby appliance store.
Garcia: “This is the park that I grew up with. If you want to talk about legends, Earl Manigault practically lived in the park. He played ball with us. He was a mentor to me. You can go there any day — you’ll find a great variety: yuppies, Mexicans, kids from the projects. It’s hallowed ground.”
3. Morningside Park, Morningside Avenue at 118th Street
Couliau: “This is where I first experienced pick-up basketball. In 2004, when I first came to New York City, Bobbito showed me around. It’s an old-school court. It’s not renovated, and the lines look hand-painted. They gave me all kinds of nicknames, like ‘Air France’ or ‘Baguette.’ I got a better nickname. We were playing at the Jefferson Projects, and one kid saw me putting up the tripods and saw I could play ball, so he called me ‘Behind the Scenes.’ ”
4. The Cage, Sixth Avenue at West Third Street
The city’s most famous court has drawn big names, including former Knick Anthony Mason and current Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings, who happened to show up the day “Doin’ It In the Park” was filming.
Couliau: “This is like the front porch of the game in New York City. Any tourist who comes to the city sees the Cage, because it’s right off the West Fourth Street subway stop. If you’re searching for trash talk, you gotta go here. You can play against tourists, real ballplayers, scrubs, Wall Street traders.”
Queens
5. LeFrak City, 59-17 Junction Blvd., at 57th Avenue, Queens
The courts in the Corona housing projects were once home to future NBA players Kenny Smith and Kenny Anderson.
Garcia: “When we arrived, it was raining, but there were still kids out playing ball. We came another day, and it was just packed. Most adults over 30 have this misconception that kids play video games and don’t play outdoors. The majority of the players outdoors are under the age of 21. That’s never more apparent than at LeFrak.”
Brooklyn
6. Wingate Park, 600 Kingston Ave., at Winthrop Street, Brooklyn
Couliau: “It’s in a tough neighborhood. I wouldn’t have gone there by myself. To play, we needed to get the approval of the mayor of the court. He was an old-school guy named Slick. We got the approval, and he played with us.”
Garcia: “We asked Slick just out of respect. It’s clear he ran the park. Once Slick says it’s cool, all the 25 other players got no problem with it.”
7. Marine Park, Fillmore Avenue at Marine Parkway, Brooklyn
Garcia: “[Former Golden State Warrior] Chris Mullin used to haunt that park and dominate when he was in high school. He’s the legend out of there. They have four full courts. They don’t play full there, only half-court. That’s eight half-courts going on. So that’s 80 to 100 people playing pick-up on a Sunday afternoon. With any court, you had the A-court where the best players were, you had your B-court, and then you had Orthodox Jewish guys running with people from Bed-Stuy.”
The Bronx
8. Mullaly Park, River Avenue at East 164th Street, The Bronx
Couliau: “It has been renovated quite recently. We went there at night, and it was just so beautiful. What I find fascinating about New York City is how the Parks Department manages to integrate the playgrounds into the urban landscape. I haven’t seen that done as well in any other city in the world. You have the landscape and the elevated 4 train going by. For photographic purposes, this is the perfect court.”
9. St. James Park, Jerome Avenue at East 193th Street, The Bronx
Garcia: “Every court has great players, but there were just so many characters here, talking smack on the side. They play a game here called ‘One Shot, One Kill.’ You have to shoot from the manhole cover about 35 feet from the rim. This one dude PLO did it nine times, but supposedly he can only do it when he’s intoxicated. He can’t do it sober.”