The Gotham City Bockers look to add another basketball championship for the state of New York in 2026
It’s been a great summer for basketball fans in New York. We saw the Knicks break the 53-year drought, and now Gotham City Bockers look to ride that momentum and deliver another championship for The Big Apple. This team is going to be a ton of energy and that hard-nosed style of play, so don’t be surprised if we see a tech or two thrown out.
Las Vegas is a bit away from NYC, but the Gotham City Bockers will be ready to show the West Coast what they’ve got en route to a hopeful championship in this year’s TBT.
For more TBT team profiles, click here.
Roster:
- Daniel Ochefu (Villanova)
- Kwah Gredic (Rust College)
- Andrew Whitsett (California State University Dominguez Hills)
- Dakari Tucker (Utah)
- Phillip McDonald
- Lance Thomas (Louisville, Memphis, & South Alabama)
- D’Andre Johnson (St. Thomas)
- Jalen Jones (SMU & Texas A&M)
- Javon Freeman-Liberty (Valpo & Depaul)
- Lacey James (Rider & Northern Illinois)
- Kobe Stewart (Presbyterian)
- Kyle Sturdivant (USC & Georgia Tech)
Coaching Staff:
- Dwight Walton (GM)
- Dennis Scott (Head Coach)
- Anthony McGuire (Asst. Coach)
- Derrick Alston (Asst. Coach)
All-Time Record: 0-0
First Matchup: vs. Davis Steel (July 22 at 5 p.m. PDT)
Team MVP: Dakari Tucker
Tucker was ridiculous in last year’s tournament. In the three games, he averaged 25 PPG, and did it on 60-52-80 shooting splits. That 52% mark wasn’t on 1-3 threes a game; he shot 7.7 a game and still made them at that rate. If you think he won’t do that again, you’re crazy. They’re going to give him the ball every possession, and he’s going to make magic. There are a lot of great players in the Vegas region, but Tucker could end up being the best.
Even though it’s a multi-game series, getting up early and building momentum is super important, and having a guy like Tucker who can provide that is essential. Expect a lot of highlights on socials from him because he’ll bring them.
Make-or-Break Player: Javon Freeman-Liberty
Freeman-Liberty is a pure scorer. In his final year of college, he finished 8th in the country in PPG at 21.7 PPG. He hasn’t stopped, going for over 20 a game for the Windy City Bulls last year, and 21 a game in the Canadian second league this year. TBT rewards guys who can score at a high rate, especially with the format.
If he can take 13-17 shots and get to the line, then he can easily put this team in a position to win. As long as he can limit turnovers, he can be a dangerous pairing with Dakari Tucker.
Team Outlook
If you notice someone on the sideline who looks familiar, it’s because it’s THE Dennis Scott. He had a 10-year NBA career and was an All-American in college. Unfortunately, he’s not playing, but he has a ton of experience that can be passed on to the guys who are.
Lance Thomas makes the team, a player who had a nine-year NBA career and scored 17 in his TBT game last year. After him, there are a lot of question marks. Can Ochefu be a glass cleaner and provide second opportunities? Who will be the defensive anchor for this team? There’s that and more that they’ll need to answer before tipping off. If the Gotham City Bockers can understand each player’s roles, then the Gotham City Bockers can absolutely beat Davis Steel.
It’s going to be an uphill battle, and this would probably be the biggest upset on the Vegas side, but with Tucker, there’s always a chance. They’ll just need to play with a high tempo and stop Gabe York however they can.