Bogues says it’s OKC, Miami in NBA finals

MANILA, Philippines – NBA Legend Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues picked the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Miami Heat as the two teams that will slug it out in the NBA Finals, with the former emerging champion.

“I got Miami and OKC back in the Finals but for some odd reason I got this feeling that OKC will win this year,” said Bogues, who cringed a bit when he chose the Thunder over the defending champions.

The diminutive Bogues is in town to grace the Jr. NBA national training camp tomorrow at the University of the Philippines in Diliman.

“Miami's inside game has not gotten better as it should have but because of LeBron (James), Dwyane (Wade) and (Chris) Bosh they still win games but I think it will finally catch up to them in the Finals,” he added.

The 5-foot-3 Bogues will lead a three-day basketball boot camp for players aged 10-14 in the Mall of Asia Music Hall and UP Diliman gym from April 26-28. This will cap off a rigorous four-month training camp aimed at choosing the most talented young players from different regions of the country.

Other former NBA players who have coached in the prestigious grassroots basketball program are AC Green, BJ Armstrong and Luc Longley.

“I have heard many wonderful things about the Filipinos’ passion for the game of basketball and I am looking forward to my first visit to the country,” Bogues said in an earlier press release from NBA.com Philippines.

“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to share my skills and knowledge with all the Jr. NBA participants that have worked so hard for their spots at the National Training Camp,” added the Wake Forest Demon Deacon product.

Popularly known as “Muggsy”, Bogues was the smallest player to set foot in the NBA at 5’3. the Bogues supplied his game with big heart and unnerving determination to offset whatever disadvantage he had in size.

Other NBA players who don’t have the luxury of height sought out the advice of the diminutive player. Bogues, for his part, said he  believes no one has come close to playing the game the way he did during his prime years in the NBA.

“I talk to Isaiah Thomas who plays for the Sacramento Kings, I used to talk to Earl Boykins a lot, I also spoke to Nate(Robinson), Raymond (Felton), Chris (Paul) but we all have different games,” said Bogues who has amassed over 6,000 assists in his 14-year NBA career.

“I have never seen someone play like me, pressuring a guy 94 feet challenging my opponent’s dribble every time he puts the ball in the floor pushing up the ball 95 percent of the time trying to find teammates,” he added.

Bogues is an inspiration to every player lacking in size, especially to vertically challenged Filipinos.

"Continue to keep striving and set goals for yourself and understand that you have to become a student-athlete. Keep those priorities in order and those things will carry you a long way," Bogues ended.