With the 19th Pick, the Raptors select Ja'Kobe Walter!

[gp2015]

I like Jakobe and think he is most likely going to be a rotation guy on a good team. Cutting the goofy hair off is a good sign but just to temper the excitement, it gave neither Lonnie Walker nor Elfrid Payton a bump. There is no apparent reverse Samson effect.

Yet.

[ontnut]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=0YpMScWXY2zRUqR8fH-usg

Good. I'm all for personal style (have long hair myself), but if I was playing a pro sport, I would try and minimize any potential thing that could screw up my career/game. I shaved my head for most of my mid-level amateur career. With hair as long as his was, and the way he wore it, I would be concerned about my hair getting in my face/eyes, or just bouncing around, as it's one less thing distracting me during a game. Plus, it gets hot.

[HiJiNX]

He can see again. I noticed he was tying it back towards the end of the season. Cutting that distraction off is a commitment to putting in work and getting better. i like it.

I love how ppl come up with their own conclusions & meanings on things none of us know about.
Having a lot of hair means he was uncommitted before?

Several post have made it seem like having dreads makes you lesser than or something

the dog isn’t whistling, its howling

For real.

Not sure what made his hair “goofy” or whatever. Seems a weird thing to say about a very common hairstyle. And to say that his hair was somehow slowing him down is weird. I guess all the pro soccer players and female athletes with long hair also have goofy hair slowing them down or getting in the way of their vision? Or is it only goofy when Black people do it?

Weird sentiments.

[MEDIC]

I love how ppl come up with their own conclusions & meanings on things none of us know about.
Having a lot of hair means he was uncommitted before?

Several post have made it seem like having dreads makes you lesser than or something

the dog isn’t whistling, its howling

For real.

Not sure what made his hair “goofy” or whatever. Seems a weird thing to say about a very common hairstyle. And to say that his hair was somehow slowing him down is weird. I guess all the pro soccer players and female athletes with long hair also have goofy hair slowing them down or getting in the way of their vision? Or is it only goofy when Black people do it?

Weird sentiments.

You peeps are getting overly sensitive about nothing.

I have had longer hair in my lifetime & I have had very short hair in my lifetime. Longer hair always = more maintenance. I also played on various sports teams. My opinion was based on my own experiences.

Obviously I have no idea what JW was thinking.....but I did notice he was tying it back for the last month or so of the season......then suddenly poof.....hair is gone.

I have also talked to many people over the years who have suddenly went from long hair to no hair & many of them talked about just making life easier & not having to maintain it. Sometimes it was because they were playing a sport, or because they had to wear a hat or helmet for work, or just wanted to wake up in the morning & go. Yes.....having long hair can be a distraction due to more time for hair management. At least in my own experience, it was.

Personally, I think JKW's hair looked better long, but I can see why a professional athlete (who is always on the go) might want to cut it off & I support his choice. Sometimes, people choose function over style.

[Bruin]

Didn’t know we had so many hair experts on this board

[HiJiNX]

the dog isn’t whistling, its howling

For real.

Not sure what made his hair “goofy” or whatever. Seems a weird thing to say about a very common hairstyle. And to say that his hair was somehow slowing him down is weird. I guess all the pro soccer players and female athletes with long hair also have goofy hair slowing them down or getting in the way of their vision? Or is it only goofy when Black people do it?

Weird sentiments.

You peeps are getting overly sensitive about nothing.

I have had longer hair in my lifetime & I have had very short hair in my lifetime. Longer hair always = more maintenance. I also played on various sports teams. My opinion was based on my own experiences.

Obviously I have no idea what JW was thinking.....but I did notice he was tying it back for the last month or so of the season......then suddenly poof.....hair is gone.

I have also talked to many people over the years who have suddenly went from long hair to no hair & many of them talked about just making life easier & not having to maintain it. Sometimes it was because they were playing a sport, or because they had to wear a hat or helmet for work, or just wanted to wake up in the morning & go. Yes.....having long hair can be a distraction due to more time for hair management. At least in my own experience, it was.

Personally, I think JKW's hair looked better long, but I can see why a professional athlete (who is always on the go) might want to cut it off & I support his choice. Sometimes, people choose function over style.

You missed the point my guy. Nobody is being overly sensitive.

The two points are:

1. What makes his hair goofy?

2. How is it impacting his game?

I have also had long hair and short hair — locs specifically. And it has not impacted my play on any level as long as it’s not blocking my field of vision.

The greater issue is people have a lot of judgments about Black people’s hair. The question is, why? Where do those judgments come from? We’re not talking about Bay St here, we’re talking about basketball.

Why didn’t we talk about Olynyk’s hair in this way? Did his hair prevent him from playing good defence?

[LoveMyRaps]

Didn’t know we had so many hair experts on this board

This forum is already in peak off-season mode.

[Tha Cynic]

When did this hair thing become so serious lol? I was just joking because both Vladdy and Bichette cut their hair and started putting up better stats.

[ontnut]

For real.

Not sure what made his hair “goofy” or whatever. Seems a weird thing to say about a very common hairstyle. And to say that his hair was somehow slowing him down is weird. I guess all the pro soccer players and female athletes with long hair also have goofy hair slowing them down or getting in the way of their vision? Or is it only goofy when Black people do it?

Weird sentiments.

You peeps are getting overly sensitive about nothing.

I have had longer hair in my lifetime & I have had very short hair in my lifetime. Longer hair always = more maintenance. I also played on various sports teams. My opinion was based on my own experiences.

Obviously I have no idea what JW was thinking.....but I did notice he was tying it back for the last month or so of the season......then suddenly poof.....hair is gone.

I have also talked to many people over the years who have suddenly went from long hair to no hair & many of them talked about just making life easier & not having to maintain it. Sometimes it was because they were playing a sport, or because they had to wear a hat or helmet for work, or just wanted to wake up in the morning & go. Yes.....having long hair can be a distraction due to more time for hair management. At least in my own experience, it was.

Personally, I think JKW's hair looked better long, but I can see why a professional athlete (who is always on the go) might want to cut it off & I support his choice. Sometimes, people choose function over style.

You missed the point my guy. Nobody is being overly sensitive.

The two points are:

1. What makes his hair goofy?

2. How is it impacting his game?

I have also had long hair and short hair — locs specifically. And it has not impacted my play on any level as long as it’s not blocking my field of vision.

The greater issue is people have a lot of judgments about Black people’s hair. The question is, why? Where do those judgments come from? We’re not talking about Bay St here, we’re talking about basketball.

Why didn’t we talk about Olynyk’s hair in this way? Did his hair prevent him from playing good defence?

I did in the past, same with Nash. It's a talking point now because Jakobe changed his hair, completely shaving it off.

And let's just be honest, his hairstyle was certainly more unique to the majority of the population when compared to long hair like Olynyk's or Nash. Calling it goofy, yeah, don't agree with that. But...it's certainly eye catching and unique, even amongst black people.

I also think many people aren't aware of the history, importance and sensitivities/significance of black hair to the people and culture, which leads to certain types of ignorant comments that can elicit a visceral (over)reaction. And yes, sometimes there is an overreaction to perceived slights or "appropriation" of black hair.

[XTC]

When did this hair thing become so serious lol? I was just joking because both Vladdy and Bichette cut their hair and started putting up better stats.

There was a reddit thread years ago trying to correlate hairlines to shooting efficiency

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/mFDfpZYoHv

[MEDIC]

For real.

Not sure what made his hair “goofy” or whatever. Seems a weird thing to say about a very common hairstyle. And to say that his hair was somehow slowing him down is weird. I guess all the pro soccer players and female athletes with long hair also have goofy hair slowing them down or getting in the way of their vision? Or is it only goofy when Black people do it?

Weird sentiments.

You peeps are getting overly sensitive about nothing.

I have had longer hair in my lifetime & I have had very short hair in my lifetime. Longer hair always = more maintenance. I also played on various sports teams. My opinion was based on my own experiences.

Obviously I have no idea what JW was thinking.....but I did notice he was tying it back for the last month or so of the season......then suddenly poof.....hair is gone.

I have also talked to many people over the years who have suddenly went from long hair to no hair & many of them talked about just making life easier & not having to maintain it. Sometimes it was because they were playing a sport, or because they had to wear a hat or helmet for work, or just wanted to wake up in the morning & go. Yes.....having long hair can be a distraction due to more time for hair management. At least in my own experience, it was.

Personally, I think JKW's hair looked better long, but I can see why a professional athlete (who is always on the go) might want to cut it off & I support his choice. Sometimes, people choose function over style.

You missed the point my guy. Nobody is being overly sensitive.

The two points are:

1. What makes his hair goofy?

2. How is it impacting his game?

I have also had long hair and short hair — locs specifically. And it has not impacted my play on any level as long as it’s not blocking my field of vision.

The greater issue is people have a lot of judgments about Black people’s hair. The question is, why? Where do those judgments come from? We’re not talking about Bay St here, we’re talking about basketball.

Why didn’t we talk about Olynyk’s hair in this way? Did his hair prevent him from playing good defence?

You are suggesting that I missed my own point? It was my post that was quoted (in which I did not use the word goofy).

My post was about long vs short hair. Nothing else. If Kelly had cut his hair, I would have said the same thing. My son plays ball & when his hair gets long, he is constantly pushing it out of the way during games. That's when I know it's time to take him for a hair cut. My post was not intended to offend all of the long haired posters on this board.

[Drakeem]

For real.

Not sure what made his hair “goofy” or whatever. Seems a weird thing to say about a very common hairstyle. And to say that his hair was somehow slowing him down is weird. I guess all the pro soccer players and female athletes with long hair also have goofy hair slowing them down or getting in the way of their vision? Or is it only goofy when Black people do it?

Weird sentiments.

You peeps are getting overly sensitive about nothing.

I have had longer hair in my lifetime & I have had very short hair in my lifetime. Longer hair always = more maintenance. I also played on various sports teams. My opinion was based on my own experiences.

Obviously I have no idea what JW was thinking.....but I did notice he was tying it back for the last month or so of the season......then suddenly poof.....hair is gone.

I have also talked to many people over the years who have suddenly went from long hair to no hair & many of them talked about just making life easier & not having to maintain it. Sometimes it was because they were playing a sport, or because they had to wear a hat or helmet for work, or just wanted to wake up in the morning & go. Yes.....having long hair can be a distraction due to more time for hair management. At least in my own experience, it was.

Personally, I think JKW's hair looked better long, but I can see why a professional athlete (who is always on the go) might want to cut it off & I support his choice. Sometimes, people choose function over style.

You missed the point my guy. Nobody is being overly sensitive.

The two points are:

1. What makes his hair goofy?

2. How is it impacting his game?

I have also had long hair and short hair — locs specifically. And it has not impacted my play on any level as long as it’s not blocking my field of vision.

The greater issue is people have a lot of judgments about Black people’s hair. The question is, why? Where do those judgments come from? We’re not talking about Bay St here, we’re talking about basketball.

Why didn’t we talk about Olynyk’s hair in this way? Did his hair prevent him from playing good defence?

This is quite a reach considering the player themselves were tying back their hair and just now cut it.

I don't think anyone here cares one way or another as long as the kid produces numbers and helps us win.

[brownbobcat]

Not sure what made his hair “goofy” or whatever. Seems a weird thing to say about a very common hairstyle. And to say that his hair was somehow slowing him down is weird. I guess all the pro soccer players and female athletes with long hair also have goofy hair slowing them down or getting in the way of their vision? Or is it only goofy when Black people do it?

Weird sentiments.

Ehhh, I think there's a big difference between long hair and a big floppy bun that comes down near your eyes.

Do I think it's a big deal or reflects work ethic in any way? No

Do I think it's a weird race-related sentiment to call it goofy? No

Y'all gonna tell me this ain't goofy?

[MEDIC]

I did in the past, same with Nash

[Childs]

Didn’t know we had so many hair experts on this board

Watch on YouTube

[dohboy_24]

Didn’t know we had so many hair experts on this board

There are tons of experts on this board about all kinds of things - even the presumed existence of life on a far-flung planet!

[WuTang_CMB]

Read on Twitter

[Dennis 37]

I've got a hair story.

Was at a funeral for my wife's cousin in Thorold a week ago. During the after funeral lunch another cousin told us his Bobby Hull story as his older brother was a lifelong Chicago Bkackhawk fan.

He went with his dad to a Buffalo/Chicago game in Buffalo NY in the early 70s. His dad, my wife's uncle, yells out, "Hey Bobby," during warmups. Bobby Hull responds with, "Hey Cirocco, you should be out here with us!" Apparently my wife's uncle was a good hockey player. Hull invites them to the lockeroom and Hull presents my wife's cousin with a team autographed stick. The big names were there; Hull, Makita, Esposito.

Layer that year, in the summer, my wife's cousin had grown his hair long. His parents were not pleased. Meantime Hull is at a local mall signing autographs. So my wife's uncle takes the same cousin down to meet Bobby Hull once more.

Hull says, "Cirocco, is this your daughter?"

The cousin responds, "No, I'm Michael, remember you gave me the stick?"

Hull responds, "Sorry, you look like a girl."

On the way home Michael is asked if he wants to go for a haircut and he agrees.

Michael's mom loves the haircut and asks her husband how he talked Michael into getting his hair cut. He responds, "I told Bobby Hull to call him a girl."

[GreatWhiteStiff]

I guess white guys who play in the nba with weird hair never get made fun of by the African American athletes. Because if they would, that too would therefore be racist, but since it's not racist it must not happen.

[YogurtProducer]

I guess white guys who play in the nba with weird hair never get made fun of by the African American athletes. Because if they would, that too would therefore be racist, but since it's not racist it must not happen.

Oh yes, white people, the real victims here

Difference is what Jakobe did is not a weird haircut at all. The fact you continue to call it weird just says everything.