NBA Inside Stuff Review - Kidds in the Hood

Volume Three, Issue Four - Grant Hill, the '95 draft, and MJ is back!

Over the course of buying up issues of Inside Stuff magazine, I’ve learned that they made alternate covers for certain issues. The covers are based on feature pieces in the magazine and, I’m guessing, are sold in areas where they would be more popular. This issue’s cover features Jason Kidd, with an alternate cover featuring Grant Hill, Glenn Robinson, and the aforementioned Jason Kidd.

News & Notes 

• AC Green’s streak of consecutive games played continues!

• Check out this inside stuff! A GM survey on Grant Hill, Glenn Robinson, and Jason Kidd.

• It’s the 1995 NBA Draft preview! This was the infamous Joe Smith Draft, which in hindsight, should have been the Kevin Garnett Draft, which, I guess it ended up that way (crystal balls, etc.) Anyhow, there was a kid in my neighborhood who was very high on Joe Smith’s upside, calling him the next Jordan. Hoops fans of a certain age, well, maybe MOST hoops fans were always trying to anoint the next MJ. Poor Joe Smith.

  There’s no reference to Garnett or Rasheed Wallace in this preview, though. Probably because they were yet to declare. My favorite player from this draft has to be Michael Finley. I always enjoyed his game, and those early 2000’s Mavs teams were incredible.

• Mark Vancil wrote about MJ’s college days. My favorite anecdote is MJ taking home economics classes in high school as a way to prepare himself for college and more or less being on his own. Jordan is quoted as saying “I could follow a pattern and make clothes for myself if I had to.” He continued, “I actually made a shirt for myself once. And it fit.” Incredible. If I ever have a chance to talk to MJ, I am going to ask him about this shirt.

• Let’s get to know Reggie Miller:

• There’s an interview with Grant Hill where he was asked, “Where do you see yourself 20 years from now?” And we are sooooo close to the 20-year mark. This issue was released in the summer of 1995, so were a bit over a year away.

  (Shoutout to

  Neil Paine
  who very gently reminded me after publication that the mid-90s were not 20 years ago but 30 years ago. Please send help.)

  But, Hill said he doesn’t know if he’ll still be involved in basketball (He is, right?) but wants to be in a position where he can help other people. Well, just helped himself to an ownership stake in the Baltimore Orioles.

  More seriously though, Hill has done a lot of charitable work. Good on you, Grant Hill!

• It’s the 1995 Stuffy Awards! MJ is the obvious winner for ‘Most Likely to Succeed (Again)’. Grant Hill wins ‘Favorite Rookie.’ Why is it favorite and not best? I’d love to speak to the Inside Stuff Advisory Board.

• Gheorghe Muresan is arguably one of the most 90s big men. Interesting note: He came in third for Most Improved Player for the 1994-95 season, and then won the award after the 1995-96 season.

Best card 

I always think we’ve reached peak 90s basketball cards after each issue. But then every time I open the next one, they’re even MORE 90s. Case in point: The 1995-96 NBA Hoops 1 from SkyBox. Mookie Blaylock for the win here.

Best Ad

• Not a hoops ad, but I remember seeing this Levi’s ad EVERYWHERE.

• This issue has an entry form to win an autographed basketball signed by AMERICA’S HOTTEST RAP STARS! To enter, you have to answer two questions on the card that require you to go to a store that sells Rap Jam Vol. 1 so you can look at the box. 

  I’m not kidding when I say this is something I absolutely would have done.

The JAM

He’s baaaaaaack! Solo MJ graces NBA Jam Session for the first time!

In the next newsletter

Shaq & Penny, new logos, and your favorite coach's favorite pastimes!