Camp still allows Outlaw to show competitive side
Travis Outlaw still shows a competitive side.
Anyone who attended the Travis Outlaw Elite Skills and Develop Basketball Camp this week could see that.
At the end of camp activity each day, the participants would split up into two teams for a scrimmage. Outlaw would coach one of those teams.
Outlaw would get quite emotional when one of his players would make a play and wasn't shy of making the official aware when a call went against his team.
It was all in fun, but an element existed where Outlaw still hates to lose.
That was true during his 12-year National Basketball Association career.
Whether it was against LeBron James, Kobe Bryant or any other opponent he faced on the court, Outlaw wanted to get the best of them.
“LeBron is going to go down as one of the greats, but when I played him, I wanted to beat him,” Outlaw said about his games against James. “Now I look back, it was a blessing to be on the same court with him.”
Since retiring about four years ago, Outlaw has focused on a new challenge and that's managing his farm each day.
Even though working with cattle may not be the same as trying to drive the lane on Shaquille O'Neal or other talented players on basketball's highest stage, Outlaw enjoys life after performing professionally.
Outlaw still looks back on his NBA days fondly.
He played with the Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers, New Jersey Nets and Sacramento Kings and remembers “the camaraderie of each team and the chemistry” that developed.
“I really enjoyed everywhere I was,” Outlaw said. “It was the concept of a team to see a goal. It was playing together and not all about I. It's a lot of life lessons.”
Outlaw continues to pass along things that he learned to those who to attend his camp.
Even though it's only for a few hours on three days during the entire summer, Outlaw doesn't take that responsibility lightly.
He is still learning also. “I learn to interact with the kids a little bit better,” Outlaw said. “They teach me a lot. It's a bad thing if you don't share the knowledge. You've got to pass it on and hope another kid does way better.”